Duque seeks law granting SRAs to health workers not directly catering to COVID-19 patients

Noting the transmissibility of the Delta coronavirus variant, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has asked the Senate to craft a law that will expand the coverage of special risk allowance (SRA) to health personnel who are not directly catering to COVID-19 patients.

At the resumption of the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the Commission on Audit’s report on the DOH expenditures on Wednesday, Duque asked for the passage of the measure as he underscored the need for a legal basis on the expansion of SRA coverage.

“The position of the [Department of Health] executive committee is, it will be best that there will be law a created allow for granting SRA to not just those who are directly in care of the patients or in direct contact but everyone in the facility owing to the high transmissibility of the Delta variant, everybody is at risk,” Duque told the senators.

“I’ve also asked the technical advisory group of experts to prepare some inputs that they may be considered by Congress and the Senate in crafting a law that will have the technical underpinnings coming from our experts on the matter of the Delta variant and its extreme transmissibility,” he added.

But Senate blue ribbon chairperson Richard Gordon told Duque “not to pass” the task to the lawmakers, noting that the COA has already rendered a “liberalized interpretation” which can cover the SRAs of the medical frontliners not directly catering to COVID-19 patients sans a law.

Responding to Gordon’s point, Duque said it is “ideal” for Congress to pass a law, adding that the COA might flag the DOH’s expansion of SRA coverage if there is no legal basis for it.

Gordon said he is ready to file the bill, but he reminded Duque that the DOH already stated that they will look for funds to cover all healthcare workers’ SRAs.

The DOH chief maintained that the COA’s liberal interpretation cannot “substitute” for a legal basis.

“Gustong-gusto ko po talaga, gusto ko nang ibigay lahat ng pwedeng ibigay, kung ibigay ang pondo, ang problema lang po talaga, baka naman, sigurado ako, mako-COA kami,” Duque said.

(I really wanted to give the benefits to them but the problem is the COA might flag us again.)

Gordon then advised Duque to take the risk of following the COA’s liberal interpretation to expand the grant of SRA to medical workers in non-COVID-19 wards.

“Nagsalita na yung COA, nagsalita ka na na. Ito involves life ng mga nagtatrabaho sa mga ospital. Kahit na wala sila sa COVID ward, ang mga ambulance drivers nila, pag nagkarga ng pasyente lalo na if walang PPE, they’re exposed and everyday that is happening,’ he said.

(The COA has already given its opinion and you also rendered yours. This involves the lives of those who work in the hospitals. Even if they are not in the COVID-19 ward, like the ambulance drivers who carry the patients without PPEs, they're exposed and everyday, this is happening.)

“If I were you…I will take the risk and I can promise you, if you take that risk, we will try to pass the bill right away if I can get the support of my colleagues,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News