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BBM: Workers deserve free Covid test

January 15, 2022 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 229 views

WORRIED that the Filipino workers are not being given enough access to free Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has called on the government to allocate enough funds for RT-PCR tests for both local and overseas workers.

“Malaki ang nagiging problema ng ating mga manggagawa dahil sa paghihigpit ng mga kumpanya upang mapangalagaan at siguraduhing ligtas ang lahat. Napakabigat para sa mga manggagawa na pasanin pa ang halaga ng RT-PCR lalo na sa panahong ito na patuloy pa ding gumagapang ang ekonomiya,” Marcos said.

The former senator noted that several companies only give their employees access to antigen tests, because it is cheaper, and once they tested positive they are barred from working without sickness benefits “because the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) requires only RT-PCR results.”

The price of RT-PCR tests ranges from P1,000 to P3,000.

“Batid nating nanawagan na ang mga manggagawa ng libreng RT-PCR test ngunit sa kasamaang palad ay hindi ito matuunan ng pansin sa kung anong mga kadahilanan. Kaya naman nakikiisa tayo sa panawagan na paglaanan ng pondo, lalo na ng DOLE ang bagay na ito,” Marcos said.

“The workers keep the economy moving. They are the backbone of every society. It is only right therefore that we give them the proper respect by taking care of their welfare, pandemic or not,” the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer added.

Marcos said that if he is given the mandate in May, his administration “will see to it that the welfare of the workers, both here and abroad, will be given priority and he will make sure that there will be enough contingency funds for any unforeseen problems that may arise.”

“Alam ko po ang dinadanas na hirap at sakripisyo ng ating mga manggagawa. Magiging kaagapay po ninyo ako sa inyong mga adhikain at titiyakin natin na lagi tayong mgakakaroon ng kasagutan sa anumang problemang ating kakaharapin,” he said.

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