Pres. Duterte Speaks on Allowance for Volunteer Health Workers amid COVID-19 Cases Increase
DUTERTE – Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said that he will increase the special risk allowance for volunteer health workers.
Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 from January 3 to January 15, 2022 following the increase in the COVID-19 cases in the country. Several cities in the capital region got an increase in their daily recorded cases of coronavirus urging the government to tighten the restrictions again.
To fight the spread of COVID-19, the Metro Manila mayors also agreed that the movements of the people who are unvaccinated will temporarily be limited. They are encouraged to stay at home if not for very essential purposes.
Several hospitals in the capital region already felt the increase in the COVID-19 cases. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte even wants to make an agreement with the nurses who are members of the New People’s Army (NPA). He assured them that they won’t be arrested if they would go down and help serve the Filipinos and they would be paid by the government.
Pres. Duterte also wants to increase the special risk allowance for volunteer health workers. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, in a taped meeting with his cabinet officials, the 76-year-old Chief Executive asked how much the health volunteers get.
According to Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III, the special risk allowance for volunteer health workers is at P5,000.00 but there are “criteria”. He expressed that those who are getting the said allowance are those who are directing attending to the COVID-19 patients.
Based on the report, Pres. Duterte expressed that P5,000.00 is too small considering the risk that the volunteer health workers are facing. To this, Health Sec. Duque agreed. The Chief Executive stressed the volunteers have to go near the patients and treat them which comes with a big risk on their part.
The President said that he will increase the special risk allowance for the volunteer health workers. He did not mention the amount but stressed that they will use the money of the government.
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