QUEZON City Rep. Alfred Vargas has filed a bill providing P1 million each to the families of medical frontliners who died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Vargas, chair of the House committee on social services, filed House Bill No. 10331, or the proposed Allowances and Benefits for Health Care Workers Act, which also sets additional benefits of P100,000 for health workers who will suffer from severe COVID-19 sickness and P15,000 in case of mild or moderate infection.
“Amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, health care workers have been at the vanguard of protecting the health and welfare of the general public as they risk their lives to serve and provide care especially for COVID-19 infected patients,” the bill said.
It added that while benefits are already provided by law, there is a need “to augment and strengthen these efforts and to properly recognize and compensate our heroes.”
The measure also proposed to grant a fixed monthly COVID-19 special risk allowance for every month served during the state of national emergency in addition to the hazard pay granted under Republic Act No. 7305 or the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.
The bill gives health care workers monthly active hazard duty py, and in case of exposure to COVID-19 or any work-related injury or disease, full coverage for all medical expenses by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
It likewise extends life insurance, accommodation, transportation, and meals, or their cash equivalent, to health workers on active duty during the pandemic.
The added allowances and benefits cover all healthcare workers “who are engaged in health and health-related work in health facilities during the state of public health emergency due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.”
