Robredo camp urges government to immediately give allowance to health workers

The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called on the government to immediately pay the allowance of health workers who have risked their lives during the pandemic, especially as the country braces for the more transmissible Delta variant.

"Hindi puwede ang expectation natin sila lang bigay nang bigay. Grabe na ang binigay ng health sector. Grabe binigay ng health workers... Kailangan tiyakin natin sa lalong madaling panahon na ang suporta na nabigay nila, ang bayad na kailangan maibigay sa kanila ay maibigay na sa lalong madaling panahon," Attorney Barry Gutierrez, spokesman of Robredo, said in her weekly radio program.

(We can't have expectations that the health workers are usually the ones sacrificing for us. They have already given much. We must make sure that they immediately get the payment due them.)

Gutierrez pointed out that benefits and equipment must be given to nurses and other health workers who would still work in the Philippines despite greener pastures overseas.

"Dapat bigyan naman natin nang sapat na suporta, tiyakin na lahat ng allowance mabigay... Tiyakin natin mga gamit gaya ng PPE (personal protective equipment) ibigay sa tamang panahon," he said.

(We should give them support, ensure that allowance will be given. Give them PPEs at the most immediate time.)

He also reminded state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to pay the expenses of private hospitals for COVID-19 response.

"Lalo na sa panahon ngayon, bayaran na. Baka 'yun pa ang dahilan para 'di nagpatuloy ng operasyon. Kailangan nilang bayaran ang empleyado, kailangan bayaran ang gastusin, kailangan ma-release ang allowances para sa frontliners," said Gutierrez, in reaction to delayed reimbursements of hospital claims.

(Especially, during these times, they need to be paid because that might be the reason why they will close. Hospitals need to pay for their employees, they need funds for their expenses and they need to release the allowances.)

Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi) president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano on Saturday appealed to the government to augment health forces in private hospitals as 40% of their workforce already resigned. 

PhilHealth had said it already released around P6.3 billion to settle the claims of hospitals in high-risk areas for COVID-19. It also said it has enough funds to reimburse hospital claims. —KG, GMA News