Funds sought for Health Workers' Day

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar has sought for an appropriation of P500,000 for the celebration of the city's Health Workers' Day, which falls every May 7.

In a proposed ordinance, Aznar, who is the chairman of the Committee on Health, said it is necessary to appropriate the amount so that the city government will no longer be asking financial assistance from the province for the celebration.

If the ordinance will be approved, the expenses for the celebration will be taken from the Office of the Mayor's budget under Other Maintenance and Operating Expenses - Special Activities.

Aznar said the disbursement of the funds shall be subject to all legal and auditing rules and procedures.

Under Republic Act 10069, Health Workers' Day aims to give due recognition to the important role and contributions of the health workers in providing vital health services to people and promoting their rights and welfare.

Last 2010, then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed RA 100691 that declares May 7 of each year as Health Workers' Day.

The act enjoins all the heads of government health facilities, offices and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled hospitals and local government health units, and employers in the private sector to give employees sufficient time to celebrate the occasion.

The law refers to health workers as persons engaged in health and health-related work regardless of their employment status, including medical, allied health professional, administrative and support services personnel, and those employed in hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations and clinics and such other health-related establishments owned and operated by the government or its political subdivisions with original charters or by the private sector.