ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. expressed confidence that healthcare workers in capitol-run hospitals were not considering a “medical lockdown” or mass resignation.
He recently convened hospital administrators, and the matter was not even brought up.
Health workers, especially in Luzon, threatened to quit their posts due to the alleged inability of the Department of Health (DOH) to give them the benefits they deserved amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Defensor said if there were any feelers of a “medical lockdown” in the province, the health workers would have already aired these through their hospital chiefs.
The provincial government has been compliant with the orders from the national government with regards to the distribution of the health workers’ benefits, he stressed.
“Kon ano ang sugo sang regulasyon kag sang laye ginahatag naton,” Defensor stressed.
The governor also confirmed he already approved the release of the benefits, particularly the Special Risk Allowance (SRA), of the health workers.
Provincial Administrator Suzette Mamon said health workers already started receiving their allowances; some delays were due to incomplete requirements.
Over 1,000 frontline health workers in provincial government-run hospitals will receive the SRA.
Based on the joint circular of DOH and Department of Budget and Management (DBM), eligible health workers may receive an SRA not exceeding P5,000 per month.
It would cover the number of days the health workers physically reported to work in a month from Sept. 15, 2020 until June 30, 2021.
“It would vary kon san-o sila nag-duty that’s why medyo mauti ang computation like pila sila sa isa ka semana nag-duty isipon ‘na. Ti kadamo-damo sang aton health workers,” said Mamon.
Among the recipient health frontliners were job hires, those under contract of service, and plantilla and regular employees assigned in the following hospitals:
* Aleosan District Hospital in Barangay Bancal, Alimodian
* Barotac Viejo District Hospital in Barangay San Lucas, Barotac Viejo
* Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Dalid, Calinog
* Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital on Alfelor Street, Passi City
* Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Poblacion, Ilawod, Lambunao
* Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital in Barangay Ilaya 1st, Dumangas
* Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Jibolo, Janiuay
* Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Barangay Rumbang, Pototan
* Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Tingui-an, Balasan
* Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Pungtod, Cabatuan
* Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial District Hospital on Garriel Street, Guimbal
* San Joaquin Mother and Child Hospital in San Joaquin
* Sara District Hospital in Barangay Anoring, Sara./PN
