Quezon Rep. Helen Tan, who is also a doctor, is happy for the workers who are set to receive more benefits under the newly signed Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Healthcare Workers Act.
The new law provides more benefits to workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and other national public health emergencies.
Tan thanked President Duterte for signing the measure into law.
“Lubos ang aking katuwaan na matapos ang mahabang usapin at sa harap ng maraming hinaing ng ating mga health care workers ay mabibigyan na sila ng patuloy na mga benepisyo sa panahon ng COVID-19 at iba pang mga pandemya na maaaring maganap. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Pangulong Duterte sa kanyang pagtaguyod sa ating mga workers sa health sector. Ito ay mahalagang regalo sa ating mga manggagawang pangkalusugan lalo na sa paggunita ng Labor Day sa bansa,” she said.
The law provides health care and non-health care workers with emergency allowance for every week of service during the pandemic.
The amount would depend on their risk exposure.
Those who get infected with COVID-19 while working would receive compensation as well.
P1 million would be given to the families of those who died, P100,000 to those who got severe or critical COVID, and P15,000 to those who got a mild to moderate infection.
All of the workers would also get Philhealth coverage.
