Bong Go

Bong Go applauds new DOH Secretary Herbosa’s pledge to expedite HCW COVID-19 benefits

June 10, 2023 People's Journal 396 views

Urges focus on poor Filipinos’ health needs

CHAIR of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, welcomed the appointment of Dr. Teodoro Herbosa as the new Secretary of Health, expressing his faith in Herbosa’s expertise and experience.

“I welcome the appointment of Dr. Teodoro Herbosa bilang secretary of health. Sa kanyang karanasan bilang adviser noong panahon ng COVID response period, noong panahon ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, nandiyan s’ya at malawak po ang kanyang kaalaman,” said Go in an ambush interview after personally aiding poor residents in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija on Thursday, June 8.

The senator further underscored the importance of focusing on the needs of the country’s poor and disadvantaged population.

“Ang pakiusap ko lang po sa kanya, unahin po ang mga pro-poor programs, ‘yung makakatulong po sa mga mahihirap, ‘yung mga hopeless, helpless nating mga kababayan na walang ibang matakbuhan kung ‘di tayong nasa gobyerno,” Go asserted.

Adding to his appeal, Go also emphasized the crucial need to sufficiently provide the benefits due to healthcare workers who have tirelessly served during the pandemic.

“Nananawagan po ako sa kanya and I’m sure priority rin po n’ya na mabayaran po ang mga healthcare workers natin, ‘yung mga due sa kanila,” he said.

The persistent call for prioritizing the needs of the poor and healthcare workers from Go aligns with his continuous advocacy in the Senate. Go authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11712 which grants mandatory continuing benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health emergencies.

Public and private HCWs covered by the law are entitled to health emergency allowance for every month of service during a state of public health emergency based on the risk categorization.

From the start, Go has been advocating for a more robust healthcare system in the nation. He has consistently supported initiatives that aim to benefit healthcare workers in the Philippines.

In 2019, the lawmaker was instrumental in the enactment of RA11466 or the “Salary Standardization Law 5”. The measure gives all civilian government employees, including nurses, increased salaries broken down in tranches.

In the same year, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, also ensured that enough funding was allotted for the implementation of the 2019 Supreme Court decision that upheld Section 32 of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, which sets the minimum salary grade of the Nurse I position at SG-15.

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