Bayanihan 2 benefits for frontline workers to remain despite law's June 30 expiration —Angara

Benefits granted to frontline workers provided under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2) will remain despite the expiration of the law on June 30, Senator Sonny Angara said Tuesday.

In a statement, Angara, who chairs the Senate finance committee, said that benefits to frontliners under the law, including the compensation for those who contract COVID-19 while in the line of duty, will continue to be granted for as long as the state of national emergency is in place.

Bayanihan 2 provides that health workers who contract COVID-19 while in the line of duty will each receive P15,000 for mild or moderate cases and P100,000 for severe or critical cases. In case of death, the family of the health worker will get P1 million.

“This provision has been present since Bayanihan 1 and should continue for as long as we are facing the COVID-19 pandemic because our frontline health workers are risking their lives daily to care for those who have been infected since day one,” Angara said.

“The intent of Congress is clear for the compensation to continue even after the expiration of Bayanihan 2 on June 30, 2021. This was agreed upon by both the Senate and the House of Representatives during our bicam meetings on the measure,” he added.

Apart from the compensation, other benefits due the healthcare workers under Bayanihan 2 will also be granted while the country is under a state of national emergency, Angara said.

These benefits include:

• Monthly special risk allowance for all public and private health workers directly catering to or in contact with COVID-19 patients;
• Actual hazard duty pay for all health workers serving in the frontline;
• Assumption of all medical expenses of public and private health workers in case of exposure to COVID-19 or any work-related injury or disease; and
• Life insurance, accommodation, transportation and meals to all public and private health workers.

Citing information from the Department of Health (DOH), Angara said 7,963 health workers who contracted COVID-19 have already been compensated.

“It is clear that our health workers should continue to receive these benefits for as long as we are facing the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

"We urge the DOH and the other implementing agencies to continue facilitating the release of the funds intended for our brave health frontliners,” he added. —Erwin Colcol/KBK, GMA News