Solons call for posthumous honors, Libingan ng mga Bayani burial for fallen COVID-19 frontliners

Two House lawmakers on Thursday proposed that frontliners who died while caring for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) be given posthumous honors and be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in recognition of their sacrifices.

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. and BHW party-list Representative Angelica Natasha Co made the remark as the nation honors its war veterans on Araw ng Kagitingan.

"Every Filipino frontliner who dies in this COVID-19 war deserves to be laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani because of their supreme sacrifice for love of country, loyalty to the people, and devotion to their profession," Garbin said in a statement.

Garbin, however, said the funeral rites for the fallen frontliners at the Libingan ng mga Bayani need not be done immediately.

"According to the COVID-19 protocols, the remains are cremated first. In our proposal, the ultimate resting place would be the Libingan ng mga Bayani. After the immediate COVID-19 threat has passed, there will be a proper time to properly honor the fallen frontliners versus COVID-19," he said.

Upon the resumption of the session of Congress, Garbin said he will request the House leadership to approve their motion in expression of collective gratitude to all frontliners fighting against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Co said she is asking the Committee on Honors to recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte an executive order that amends the Honors Code of the Philippines and "to establish a new honor to be named after the most beloved and most highly-esteemed Secretary of Health our country has ever had, Dr. Juan M. Flavier."

The proposed new honor will be named the Gawad Juan Flavier, Co said, and will "have a stature equal to the Order of National Scientists and Order of National Artists, with the same gratuities and privileges."

Prior to being a senator and health secretary, Flavier was a doctor to the barrios for 30 years, and graduated from the University of the Philippines and the John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, Co said.

At least 17 doctors in the country have died due to COVID-19, according to the Philippine Medical Association.

Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) president Dr. Rustico Jimenez has called for enough supply of personal protective equipment in hospitals to protect health workers from getting infected with the novel coronavirus.

As of Wednesday, there are already 3,870 cases of COVID-19 in the country, with 182 deaths and 96 recoveries.—AOL, GMA News