In conjunction with the commemoration of National Heroes Day this Monday, some health workers who are considered heroes in this COVID-19 pandemic took to the streets to protest because they have not yet received benefits from the government.
This includes St. Luke’s Medical Center Employees Association, who want their delayed benefits paid.
This Monday is also the 9th day since President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Health (DOH) to provide benefits to health workers.
But according to the group, the P311 million fund released is only for more than 20,000 health workers and only for the special risk allowance (SRA).
According to health workers of St. Luke’s, at 3,000, just over 1,000 were granted SRA.
He said the DOH’s list of loan benefits is still long because they still do not get meals, accommodation, and transportation allowance, apart from hazard pay.
The group doubts that they will be able to provide their benefits until Tuesday, Duterte’s deadline.
The group assured that the patients were not affected by the ongoing protest and that the hospital’s operation was not delayed.
Health workers protest for benefits on National Heroes’ Day
Employees of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Hospital in Manila also staged a protest.
A noise barrage was conducted by health workers of UST Hospital from Lacson Avenue to España Boulevard.
Like St Luke’s medical frontliners, UST Hospital residents are also asking for their benefits to be provided.
Aside from the walkout this Monday, Filipino Nurses United (FNU) and other health workers will also hold a massive protest on Wednesday, September 1.
According to FNU National President Maristela Abenoja, they do not believe the government will be able to provide the benefits they are demanding until Tuesday.
The FNU asserted that only 20,000 health workers would benefit from the reduced DOH funding.
“Ang SRA pa nga lang po ang pinag-uusapan ay kapos na kapos pa ang budget. May bilyones pa pong nandiyan na hindi pa po nagagamit. Kaya hindi ho katuwiran ang kakulangan sa budget kung tutuusin para ibigay po ang lahat ng benepisyong nararapat sa ating health workers,” said Abenojar.
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