WHEN fighting the good fight, even the best can be cut down.
In this war we wage against the COVID-19 virus, our public and private health workers are holding the line. And sadly, we have experienced tragedies.
At least five of our frontline
doctors have fallen, giving their very lives to keep on treating people even
though they knew they could probably be infected. We salute them, and recognize
their heroic acts, thinking of others before themselves.
But we who can must still defend and support those who continue to risk their
lives for their fellow citizens. Many other healthcare workers have fallen ill
or are in quarantine, and many of our hospitals ā Makati Medical Center, The
Medical City, and both St. Lukeās Hospitals ā are now at their respective
limits. And yet, if they can, they will still render aid, will still find a way
to make sure a possible COVID patient receives proper treatment.
This is the reason why some of the provisions of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (RA 11469), which was recently signed into law by the President, will make sure that our healthcare workers will be taken care of, and given just compensation for their incredible efforts to keep COVID-19 from making even more of our fellow Filipinos ill.
First, all public health workers will receive a āCOVID-19ā special risk allowance. This will be in addition to the hazard pay granted under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, also known as Republic Act 7305.
Second, since it is recognized that public and private healthcare workers will be in the diseaseās line of fire, there is also a directive to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to shoulder all medical expenses in case of exposure to COVID-19 or any work-related injury or disease, especially for those in the frontline.
Third, under the measure, among
the special authorities granted to the President is to fast track the
procurement of such items as personal protective equipment (PPEs) like gloves,
gowns, masks, goggles, and face shields; medical supplies; laboratory apparatuses,
and others that are critical to the frontlinersā work.
Fourth, public and private healthcare workers who contract the severe form of
the COVID-19 infection in the line of duty will be compensated with P100,000. A
compensation of P1 million will be given to the family of healthcare workers
who have succumbed to the virus. This provision will be retroactively applied
from Feb. 1, 2020.
Finally, temporary Human Resources for Health ā volunteers ā will be engaged.
This will include medical and allied medical personnel who will be added to the
current health care workforce, performing duties such as maintaining and
operating temporary medical facilities.
Personally, I welcome the fact that our healthcare workers will be granted special risk allowances aside from their hazard pay. However, I urge that the Department of Health (DOH) should also give consideration for volunteers, that they should also be given the hazard pay and special risk allowances.
With Administrative Order No. 26 and the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act providing financial aid to health care workers, we should also consider that volunteers will be exposed to the same dangers as our initial frontliners. In other words, volunteers are frontliners, and should be compensated as such.
We have a very long road ahead of
us, and even with the other provisions in the Bayanihan Act that will provide
funding for immediate healthcare services to COVID-19 patients, as well as
assistance and basic necessities for those seriously affected by the enhanced
community quarantine, we will still need the unified efforts of frontliners,
government, and the people to stem the tide of this disease.
To the men and women in healthcare, we thank you for going well beyond the call
of duty. I also call on the whole nation to support they who hold the line, for
in unity, the Filipino will find the strength to survive.
***
Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 15 years ā nine years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and six as Senator. As of March 26, he tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. He has been experiencing some symptoms like mild fever, cough, and general weakness. Heās currently in self-quarantine and hasnāt be in contact with the public since March 16.
While he hopes to recover soon, he asks for all to continue to support all efforts to fight the spread of the virus, especially those of the frontliners in the emergency rooms and on the streets. He prays that with hope, sacrifice, and unity of effort, we shall overcome. (Email: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara/PN)
