MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday issued an administrative order granting a special allowance to frontline public health workers who were exposed to health risks in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Under his Administrative Order 28, Duterte has ordered the granting of a one-time COVID-19 special risk allowance, equivalent to a maximum of 25 percent monthly basic pay, to public health workers during the period of the enhanced community quarantine.
The public health workers were the medical, allied medical and other personnel assigned in hospitals and healthcare facilities directly catering to or in contact with COVID-19 patients, persons under investigation or persons under monitoring.
For medical workers to avail of the grant, they should either be civilian employees under regular, contractual, casual, or part-time positions; workers engaged through job order; and barangay health workers regardless of the nature of engagements and have been assigned to health care facilities.
The allowance grant will be pro-rated based on the number of days that the public health workers physically reported for work during the period of the enhanced community quarantine.
Those who were present at work for three to seven days will get 25 percent of the incentive, 50 percent to those who worked for eight to 12 days, 75 percent for 13 to 17 days, and 100 percent incentive for those who worked for 18 or more days
Consultants, laborers engaged through job contracts, student workers, apprentices, and those not assigned in hospitals and healthcare facilities may not avail of the grant.
“There is a need to recognize the heroic and invaluable contributions of our public health workers throughout the country, who bravely and unselfishly risk their lives and health by being at the forefront of the national effort to address the public health emergency,” Duterte said./PN
