AN angry and frustrated President Duterte ordered the release — by Tuesday next week — of cash benefits due frontliners who have been infected by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or have died from it, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday.
Under Republic Act No. 11469 or Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, government must provide P100,000 to health workers who developed severe illness from COVID-19, while the families of those who succumbed to it will be entitled to P1 million.
As of June Tuesday, 2,675 healthcare workers have been hit by COVID-19, with 1,457 having recovered while 32 died.
“Galit, frustrated, at ngayon ko lang po nakita na talagang medyo uminit ang ulo ng Presidente… Binabalaan ko po ang mga otoridad. Sumunod po tayo. (Angry, frustrated, and this is the first time that I saw the President loose his cool … I am warning the authorities, let us follow the directives),” Roque said.
At least 2,600 frontliners were reported to have contracted COVID-19 while on duty.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH had a hard time finding funds for the compensation of healthcare workers, causing delays in its release.
“The law provides that the funds should come from reallocated and realigned budget, so we really had to look for funds. We even explored the possibility of the funds coming from the SSS or GSIS,” said Vergeire.