Duterte OKs hazard pay for gov't workers who physically reported for work during MECQ

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved  the granting of hazard pay to all government workers who had to physically report for work during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) period from April 12 until either May 14 or May 31. 

Through Administrative Order 43, issued on Wednesday, Duterte amended AO 26 which only granted hazard pay to government workers required to physically report on site for their job during the ECQ period.

ECQ only allows essential trips and operations of essential businesses and services. MECQ, on the other hand, allows essential trips and downscaled operation of non-essential business and services.

AO 43 provides that the budget for the hazard pay for local government unit (LGU) workers will come from the 2021 local government funds.

Hazard pay for those in government-owned and controlled corporations, on the other hand, will be funded by each GOCC’s corporate operating budget for 2021.

If their respective funds are insufficient, the LGUs and GOCCs are allowed to reduce the ideal amount of P500 per day but it will remain mandated to grant a uniform amount of hazard pay for all qualified personnel, including those under contractual and job order status.

The National Capital Region (NCR) Plus area, which is the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, has been under MECQ from April 12 to May 14.

NCR Plus area include Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

The City of Santiago in Isabela, Zamboanga City, Quirino, and Ifugao, meanwhile, remained under MECQ until May 31. -MDM, GMA News