Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr discussed Monday Bayanihan 2 fund allocations or the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act, which President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on September 11, 2020.
Roque gave details on where the billions of funds would, especially on healthcare and COVID-19 response.
The Palace official said P13.5 billion would be given to health-related responses, including the continued employment and hiring of emergency human resources for health.
“Under the Bayanihan II, augmentation of the operation of DOH hospitals will continue, as well as the allocation of a COVID-19 Special Risk Allowance for private and public healthcare workers who had direct contact with COVID-19 patients. The special risk allowance will be given for every month that they were on active duty while the state of national emergency declared by the President is in effect,” the Office of Presidential Spokesperson posted on its official Facebook page.
“Aside from the COVID-19 Special Risk Allowance, the new law will also give life insurance, temporary housing, transportation, and food to all public and private health workers while the state of national emergency is in effect, regardless of quarantine status,” it added.
Under the Bayanihan 2 fund allocations, healthcare workers who contract COVID-19 while in duty would also receive rightful compensation: P1 million for the bereaved family of the healthcare worker; P100,000 for severe or critical cases; and P15,000 for mild and moderate cases.
“The said compensation is retroactive starting February 1, 2020, and is tax- exempt. According to Bayanihan II, healthcare workers should receive the compensation not more than three months from the date of hospitalization or death from COVID-19,” it said.
Meanwhile, some P3 billion was allocated for the procurement and distribution of “personal protective equipment like protective suit, face mask, shoe covers, face shield, and goggles for public and private COVID-19 referral hospitals, both national and local, for barangays, and indigent persons.”
Bayanihan 2 fund allocations
Bayanihan 2 fund also allotted P4.5 billion for the construction of temporary medical isolation and quarantine facilities, field hospitals, dormitories for frontliners, and enhancing the capacity of government hospitals nationwide.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development was given P6 billion for emergency subsidy for areas that will be under granular lockdowns wherein residents affected could receive P5,800, Roque said.
Bayanihan 2 fund also gave the labor department P13 billion to aid those who lost their jobs during the pandemic.
P820-Million was allocated for the repatriation-related expenses, including the shipment of remains and cremation of Overseas Filipinos, who died of COVID-19.
P10-Billion is reserved for COVID-19 testing and the procurement of COVID-19 medication and vaccine.