Duterte orders release of funds for frontliners

MANILA, Philippines — An angry President Duterte has ordered the release within three days or by Tuesday of the insurance and medical benefits of frontline health workers – P1 million for each of those who died of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and P100,000 for those who got infected.

Duterte was enraged and frustrated after learning that the Department of Health (DOH) has not released any of the amounts specified under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act 11469), presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said during a televised press briefing from Davao City yesterday.

“This is the first time I saw him blow his top after learning that the amounts were not released yet,” Roque said.

Sen. Bong Go also questioned the delay in a privilege speech yesterday as he urged the DOH, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)  to coordinate and immediately act on the release of the compensation.

He noted that Duterte has been very clear against red tape. “In fact, he has firmly stated that within 48 to 72 hours all papers should have already been acted upon.”

“This means: Do not prolong the process. Two months have passed and yet nothing has been released. Why the delay? Or, was it intentional? Is anyone of you acting on it?” Go said, pointing out that it is doubly painful for those who have lost their loved ones and are still having a hard time getting compensation.

In the virtual briefer, Roque reiterated the need to speed up the distribution or face the consequences.

“I am warning the authorities: Follow the directive. This is the first time that I saw the President really mad,” he added.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, at a separate virtual briefing, assured the immediate release of the compensation as she explained that it took sometime to issue an administrative order as the DOH explored and identified the funding for the program.

She added that the DOH is just waiting for the signature of the DBM and DOLE for the issuance of a joint Administrative Order, which should govern the release of cash aid for COVID-affected healthcare workers.

She also said the DOH has contacted the heirs of the 32 healthcare workers who died of COVID and asked them to submit the required documents. The same requirement was asked of the 79 workers that were classified as critical and severe COVID cases.

At least P100 million has been set aside for the compensation program.

As of June 2, a total of 2,675 healthcare workers – mostly doctors and nurses – have been infected with the virus. Of that number, 32 have died while 1,457 have recovered.

Conflicting statements

In his privilege speech, Go questioned the delay in the release of benefits to frontliners who died or got sick in the fight against COVID-19.

“Mr. President, I am also dismayed by the conflicting statements of the DBM and the DOH. They said guidelines are needed before the money could be released but the DOH said otherwise,” he said.

“Hoy DBM, DOH and also DOLE. Talk to each other, coordinate with each other. Perhaps the President does not know it yet. You’re playing dead. Now that the problem has been exposed to the public, you make joint issuance to implement what you’re supposed to have done a long time ago,” Go stressed.

Congress passed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which gave President Duterte the power to realign budget and funds programs to address the COVID-19 crisis.

Under the Act, public and private health workers who got sick from coronavirus will receive P100,000 in compensation on top of the free cost of hospitalization and treatment.

For those who will die, their beneficiaries will receive P1 million as compensation.

“As the chair of the Senate committee on health and as a member of the joint congressional oversight committee on the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, I call upon the concerned agencies to remedy this immediately and release the rightful compensation for our health workers who have died of and have been infected by COVID-19, as provided by law. Maawa naman kayo (Have pity on them),” Go said.

He noted that Congress would soon pass the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or

Bayanihan 2 and yet the government still has commitments in the previous law that have not been acted upon.

Go anchored his privilege speech on the information which was revealed during the plenary deliberations last Tuesday that the benefits for health workers have not been provided yet.

“Thirty-two health workers have died and several others fell ill, thousands of families were affected and yet you will still burden them with several process,” Go chided the agencies.

“Why did this happen? April and May passed and now it’s June. Until now our health workers and their families have not received those benefits,” he added.

He noted that medical frontliners, who sacrificed even their lives, are the heroes in the fight against COVID-19.

“As chair of the committee on health and your former colleague in the Executive, I have always been supportive of our government agencies. I have also been firm in defending your budget. We used to work together. I trusted you. But as I’ve said before, if I see something wrong, I will speak. When it comes to public service for the people, I will speak,” Go said.

He stressed that the sacrifices of the forntliners should not just go to waste just because of the bureaucracy.

“To the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries down to the directors in your offices, help your secretaries, they could not do it alone. Wake up. Don’t pretend to be sleeping or playing dead. Or are you already dead?” the lawmaker urged as he pointed out that money could not compensate for the services they rendered to the nation.

“If you don’t want to work, then leave. The President is doing everything to ensure the government will be able to help everyone in need and if those under him do not want to cooperate, they can leave,” he said.

Go stressed that the “health workers are doing one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs against an unseen enemy – a sickness (that) until now has no cure.  They have paid the ultimate price – their lives – so that the rest of their countrymen and women will continue to live.”    Edith Regalado, Mayen Jaymalin, Cecille Suerte Felipe