Senators seek P1-M death benefit for health workers who succumb to COVID-19

Families of doctors, nurses, and other health workers who died in the line of duty amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation in the Philippines should be entitled to P1 million assistance each, according to senators on Monday night.

Senator Richard Gordon suggested the inclusion of such provision in Senate Bill No. 1418 or the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act," which was tackled at the special session in the Senate.

His fellow lawmakers adopted the proposal and indicated in the bill that the said amount shall be given to public and private health care workers who died fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The said provision shall have a retroactive effect.

A compensation of P100,000 shall also be given to public and private medical workers who may have acquired "severe" COVID-19 while in the line of duty.

The proposal of Senators Panfilo Lacson and Grace Poe to provide a COVID-19 special risk allowance to all public health workers was also adopted by the body.

This compensation shall be on top of the hazard pay that medical workers in the public sector are receiving.

Further, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) may be directed by the President to shoulder all medical expenses of both public and private health workers, in case of their exposure to COVID-19 or any related injury during the period of the health emergency.

Voting 12-0-0, the Senate on early Tuesday morning passed the said bill which primarily seeks to declare the existence of a national emergency and authorize President Rodrigo Duterte to exercise powers necessary for an effective COVID-19 response.

The House of Representatives also approved on third and final reading its version of the proposed law. -- BAP, GMA News