Gov't starts distribution of P32M to families of health workers who died due to COVID-19

Published June 04, 2020 02:12 PM By DONA MAGSINO,GMA News

The families of the 32 health workers who died of COVID-19 in the line of duty will be receiving death benefits amounting to P1 million each starting Thursday, according Health Undersecretary Roger Tong-An.

"The [Health, Budget and Labor departments] signed the joint administrative order then we are now preparing for the 32 health care workers who died due to COVID-19, amounting to P32 million," Tong-An, head of DOH's Administration and Financial Management Team, said in a phone interview with GMA News Online.

"Ide-deliver namin sa mga bahay nila... today, tomorrow, until Saturday. Ready naman na ang check," he added.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the distribution process may start as soon as the relatives of beneficiaries are able to submit the requirements.

"Once they have completed the documentary requirements, we can immediately process the checks since the budget is ready already," she said in a message to reporters on Viber.

Verification is also ongoing for the disbursement of the P100,000 sickness benefit for health care workers with severe COVID-19.

"Kinukuha namin [ang data] sa Epidemiology Bureau. As of now, 23 ang ibinigay sa amin. Kino-contact na namin sila," Tong-An said.

Earlier this week, several senators expressed dismay upon learning that not a single health worker affected with severe COVID-19 has been able to receive the sickness and death benefit that was indicated in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act due to lack of implementing rules and regulations.

Section 4 (f) of the Bayanihan Law, which was passed in March, states that public and private health workers who contract severe COVID-19 must receive a P100,000 compensation from the government. A death benefit of P1 million must also be provided to those who die of COVID-19 in the line of duty. The provision has a retroactive application from February 1, 2020.

The same benefits have been carried over in the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act which the Senate passed on second reading on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Malacañang announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has given the concerned government agencies until June 9 to release the benefits. --KBK/BM, GMA News

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