P16-B worth of benefits given to health workers

MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday said PHP16 billion worth of benefits has been distributed to all healthcare workers.

“Kasama rito ang pinakabagong ulat ng ating pamamahagi ng (It includes the new report of our distribution of) special risk allowance at (and) Covid-19 sickness and death compensation,” Duque said during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People late Tuesday night.

Compared to October 11 data and monitoring, Duque said the funds downloaded for the special risk allowance of Batch 3 and Batch 4 healthcare workers have slightly increased.

“Ang naipamahagi na nasa humigit-kumulang na 55,000 healthcare workers ay nasa PHP735 million na po at mula sa huling ulat PHP617 million (We have distributed to more or less 55,000 healthcare workers around PHP735 million from the last report of PHP617 million),” he said.

“At para naman sa sickness and death compensation, mula sa 604 million, nasa 613 million na ang ating naipamahagi para sa mga healthcare workers na nagkaroon ng mild, moderate, at severe to critical na kaso ng (And for the sickness and death compensation, from PHP604 million, we have distributed PHP613 million for our healthcare workers who had mild, moderate, and severe to critical symptoms) Covid-19,” he added.

The distributed amount also included the benefits of healthcare workers who died from Covid-19.

To continue helping the healthcare workers, Duque said the Department of Health is seeking additional funds for their benefits under the proposed 2022 national budget.