The Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center Chief of Hospital Dr. George Walthrode Opay personally attends the release and distribution of the overdue unpaid 1,447 Health Emergency Allowance for pandemic Health Workers last October 4, 2024 at the ZNMC Hospital.
Dr.Opay stresses that the DBM released Php 90M compensation claims of legitimate healthcare and non-health care workers who served the province during the onset of COVID 19 Pandemic and Post-Pandemic covering the period May 2022 to December 2022 – January 2023 to July 2023.
Health Workers gets their allowance from P3,000 to P9,000 every month, depending on the risk classification. Grants, benefits and compensation for health workers during public health emergencies was signed into law which is the Republic Act No. 11712 by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte states that “the State recognizes the critical role of health care workers in providing quality health care to ensuring disease prevention in the general population, especially in times of national public health emergencies. To, this end the state shall reciprocate by promoting their welfare through the grant of mandatory benefits and allowances with utmost efficiency”, as stipulated by RA 11712.
Further, as stated in the said law, outsourced personnel hired under institutional or individual contract of service or job order basis who are similarly exposed to COVID- 19, or other threats in times, if public health emergencies, are included as non-health workers under the Act. Included are those barangay health workers (BHW) assigned in health facilities, including swabbing and vaccination sites. (Angelica T. Obina)
(PROVINCIAL INFORMATION CENTER)