President Rodrigo Duterte gave Department of Health (DOH) until June 9 to compensate health workers who died or severely ill due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In an online press briefing in Malacañan Palace, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the President is ‘angry and frustrated’ after learning that the medical frontliners have not received the cash assistance and benefits promised to them under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.
“Galit, frustrated, ngayon ko lang po nakita na uminit ang ulo ng Presidente nang malaman niya na hindi pa rin nabibigay yung ₱100,000 para sa mga nagkasakit na frontliners,” Roque said.
To recall, Senators were also dismayed to reveal that not a single health worker got the aid, which amounts to P1 million for those who died and P100,000 who fell severely ill.
According to Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sonny Angara, the Health department blamed the non-compensation to the absence of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the provision of the law, which has not been crafted yet.
DOH assured that they are now reaching out to the families of the health workers to give the benefits that they deserved.
“We’ve contacted all 32 families (of those who died). We are processing the checks and working out necessary documents they need to submit to avail the benefits,” the DOH said in a separate statement.
Based on the data from DOH as of June 2, there are 2,669 healthcare workers infected with COVID-19. Of the number, 1,199 is still active, 1,438 have already recovered, and 32 of them have died.
