P1-M checks given to kin of 30 fallen health care workers

FILE: Medical technologists of the Philippine Coast Guard help each other wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during the opening of the swabbing facility at the Palacio De Maynila, Roxas Boulevard, Manila on Tuesday (May 5, 2020). (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – The families of 30 front-line health workers who died of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) have received the PHP1-million compensation mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Tuesday night.

“Thirty out of 32 heirs of those who died received their PHP1 million check. The other two have their relatives abroad and we are still coordinating with their families how they can get their money,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a statement.

The total number of beneficiaries was supposed to be 34 upon validation of two more deaths on Tuesday.

However, two were delisted due to “issues in the diagnosis” specified in their death certificates, bringing the number to 32.

“There were an additional two more today that were validated, which brought the total to 34, but two were delisted and the other two heirs were abroad, so we’re able to provide 30 from the total of 32,” Vergeire said.

The department has finished distributing the PHP100,000 check to 19 out of 19 front-liners with severe cases of Covid-19.

“Nineteen out of 19 severe cases received their PHP100,000 checks,” she said.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte gave the DOH until June 9 to finish distributing benefits to sick and fallen health care workers as mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or Republic Act (RA) 11469.

Duterte also ordered Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to form a new team to oversee the distribution of benefits to health care workers.

The department tapped the PHP100-million Medical Assistance Fund as a source of the health care workers’ compensation.