Makabayan Bloc seeks probe into unpaid benefits of health workers

The Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives is seeking a congressional inquiry into the reported unpaid benefits to healthcare workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In filing House Resolution 2138 on Wednesday, the lawmakers urged the House committees on Health and on Good Government and Public Accountability to look into the matter and mandate the immediate distribution of benefits to all health workers in public and private medical facilities.

"The neglect of the welfare of health workers is unjust and unforgivable during this time of COVID-19 crisis. Such neglect should not be allowed as these not only put the health workers in unnecessary physical, mental and financial hardships which will negatively affect the health services for our people," the resolution read.

According to Makabayan Bloc, some health workers have lamented the lack of clear guidelines in the release of the benefits.

Several groups of health workers from both government hospitals and the private institutions have been complaining of the non-release of their Special Risk Allowance (SRA) and the removal of their other benefits such as meal and transportation allowance even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some have even threatened to go on mass leave over the alleged government neglect.

During a congressional inquiry on Tuesday, Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo questioned the supposed discrepancies in the distribution of the allowances and benefits of healthcare workers.

Quimbo pointed out that out of 526,547 healthcare workers, only 384,159 received allowances and benefits as provided under the Bayanihan 2 law.

At a Laging Handa public briefing, Quimbo said the readily available funds could be utilized for the remaining healthcare workers who have not received their allowances yet.

"Ang sa akin, 'yung natitira ngang pondo because it's readily available, hindi na natin kailangan ng, halimbawa, certificate of fund availability," Quimbo said.

(For me, use the readily available funds. We will no longer need a certificate of fund availability.)

She also said the Congress would do everything to help in ensuring that the allowances and benefits of medical frontliners will be given.

"Sa aking palagay, kailangan ng authorization pero kung kailangan man, palagay ko mabilis nang gawin especially kung halimbawa macertify urgent and naging maliwanag naman sa pahayag ng Pangulo na kailangan iprioritize," Quimbo said.

(If there's a need for authorization from Congress, we can hasten its process because even President Rodrigo Duterte wants to prioritize the release of benefits of healthcare workers.)

"Sa tingin ko kung ano man ang kailangan, whether it's an authorization from Congress or perhaps if there are other available workaround eh sana ipaalam sa amin kaagad," she added.

(Whatever they need, just let the Congress know.) —KBK, GMA News