A group of medical frontliners once again threatened mass resignation and protested actions if the government did not provide their allowance and other benefits.
According to the Alliance of Health Workers President Robert Mendoza, if the Department of Health (DOH) persists in the allowance and benefits they are demanding, they will be forced to continue the protest as well as the mass resignation.
“Kung talagang pikit-bulag ang ating gobyerno sa mga panawagan ng mga health workers, both public and private, talagang pupunta tayo doon sa mass resignation,” said Mendoza.
“Mayroon na kaming nakaplano na sama-samang pagkilos. Ito’y tinatawag naming malawakang lockdown,” said Jao Clumia, president of St. Luke’s Medical Center Employees Association.
But the DOH insisted that the government has already spent P10.85 billion for more than 740,000 health workers and P4.34 billion for hazard pay of more than 864,000 frontliners.
“The SRA (special risk allowance), which is really processed through the regional offices… would mean that they need to enlist in a master list in regional offices,” explained Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega.
“We’ve been asking regional offices to coordinate with private hospitals to write us, validate, certify, health care workers who were not given so we can source out a funding for this,” he added.
But Clumia has doubts about the value.
Group of health workers again threaten mass resignation, protest
“Huwag niyo kaming lokohin. Kaya kami nandito ngayon, ubos na rin po, sagad na rin po kasi ‘yong budget ng management, lahat po ng budget na ‘yon hindi po galing sa gobyerno,” said Clumia.
Vega also said he regrets that despite the spike of COVID-19 cases in the country, there have been calls for mass resignation among health workers.
On Tuesday, the Commission on Audit (COA) is scheduled to appear at the hearing of the House committee on public accounts in connection with its report on the DOH’s use of funds against COVID-19.
The COA recently found the Department of Health allegedly lacking in the proper handling of funds for the pandemic.
Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez urged Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to attend the House hearing on Tuesday to explain the COA findings.
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