RITM: Over P200 million COVID-19 benefits released to employees since 2020

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has released more than P200 million worth of COVID-19 benefits to its healthcare workers since 2020, the center's director Cecilia Carlos said Thursday.

Based on a report shared by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, RITM has released active hazard duty pay (AHDP) amounting to over P23.5 million and a special risk allowance amounting to P65.9 million since 2020.

Of the P23.5 million AHDP released, P16 million were given to the contract of service (COS) staff while P6 million were released to permanent personnel.

Meanwhile, of the P65 million SRA, P25 million were released to COS and P40 million were released to permanent personnel.

According to Carlos, the RITM also spent more than P120 million for the meals, accommodations, and transportation of healthcare workers last year, bringing the total benefits released by the agency to P200 million.

“We spent a total of P120,244,546.84 for meals, accommodations, and transport, which were all provided in kind,” Carlos told GMA News Online.

Of the 120 million, P48 million were spent on daily meals, P54 million were spent on accommodations in hotels, and P17 million were spent on transportation shuttle services.

As the country’s battle with the COVID-19 continues, several healthcare workers have been protesting the delayed release of their benefits.

On Wednesday, medical frontliners symbolically padlocked the main gate of the Department of Health office in Sta. Cruz, Manila.—LDF, GMA News