‘If we reckon this problem as occurring at the same time as when the DOH transferred P42.4 billion to the DBM… the more outrageous the non-payment of allowances and benefits to health workers becomes.’
IN ordinary times, working in the health sector — particularly in hospitals — is difficult enough. Consider the routine change in day and night shifts that strains the body and the mind because it interferes with sleep patterns. But this is trifle compared to the concomitant, real risks a doctor, a nurse, or a medical technologist faces in personally assisting a patient with a communicable disease. And in the time of an epidemic like today, when thousands have died from COVID-19, the danger and sacrifices of health frontliners have exponentially increased.
It is unconscionable therefore if our nurses, physicians and other health workers had to resort to mass action like pickets and rallies to air their demand to the government that they receive the delayed pay and benefits that they had worked for.
Health officials should not feel good that President Duterte had given the Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Management 10 days to use whatever money the government has and pay the health workers.
“It’s an order, Secretary Duque, bayaran mo ‘yung mga hinihingi ng nurses, both in government and outside. Pag wala kang pera, gastusin mo lahat ng ano diyan. Use whatever money there is,” the President said. He also ordered the two departments that if they lack personnel to process the actual payments, they can borrow from other departments who may help them.
While the DOH claimed it has released over P9 billion for the special risk allowance (SRA) and hazard pay of health workers, many frontliners said they still have not received the benefits allocated under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) which lapsed on June 30. The law provides for life insurance, accommodation, free meals and transportation for both public and private health-care workers.
At this point, we may ask: How will the health department be able to pay the health workers these arrears? Health Secretary Francisco Duque is eyeing the department’s savings that might be aligned to fund the SRAs of health workers. Since this is not enough, they requested an additional P3.6 billion to pay for the benefits.
If we reckon this problem as occurring at the same time as when the DOH transferred P42.4 billion to the DBM to buy overpriced face mask, face shields, etc. by the millions, as it did, the more outrageous the non-payment of allowances and benefits to health workers becomes.
