Gov't may tap President's funds to compensate COVID-stricken health workers –Palace

Malacañang on Thursday said the government may tap the funds of the Office of the President to compensate frontline health workers who died due to COVID-19 or who contracted a severe form of the disease.

In a radio interview, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque recognized that the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the law that mandated the grant of financial assistance to COVID-19-stricken health workers, had already lapsed.

“Iko-confirm ko lang po within the day para po magkaroon talaga ng confirmation na huwag pong mag-alala ang mga health workers, sagot na po ng Office of the President ‘yan,” he said.

Roque’s statement came a day after the Department of Health (DOH) said it was exploring options on how to grant the P1-million death benefit to the family of the 34th health worker to succumb to COVID-19 after the lapse of the Bayanihan Law.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH was working with other government agencies to be able to continue providing benefits to health workers with COVID-19.

The Bayanihan Law, which expired on June 25, also mandated financial assistance worth P100,000 for every health worker with a severe case of COVID-19. All public health workers are also entitled to a COVID-19 special risk allowance in addition to their hazard pay.

As of June 29, a total of 3,372 health workers have contracted the disease, 2,514 or 75% of whom have recovered, the DOH said. —Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News