SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his support for the Department of Health’s recommendation to not lift the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 in the country yet.

“Ako po, pabor ako diyan na ‘wag munang i-lift dahil, unang-una, kung ili-lift po ito, marami pong apektado. ‘Yung allowance po ng ating mga healthcare workers, death benefits ng ating mga healthcare workers. Habang nandidiyan po si COVID, nandiyan pa rin po ang panganib,” Go cited in an ambush interview after his visit to the Malasakit Center at Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Roxas City, Capiz on Monday, April 17.

“Maaari silang magkasakit, maaari silang mamatay. Napakaliit po na halaga ito na dapat po ibigay sa ating mga healthcare workers. Para sa akin, habang nandidiyan pa si COVID, huwag munang i-lift,” he continued.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed that the country’s healthcare system must be better prepared before lifting the state of public health emergency. She made the remark last week after United States President Joe Biden signed a legislation on April 10 to end the national emergency for COVID-19. US has also earlier announced the end of the separate public health emergency scheduled for May 11.

Vergeire said, “No matter what the context would be, dito sa Pilipinas kasi, our situation right now would be that we are trying to monitor our cases, and we are trying to better prepare our healthcare system.”

“Nakikita naman natin that soon, we will be able to lift this state of public health emergency pero kailangan lahat nakaayos na before we do that,” she added.

Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also emphasized the need for continued vigilance and cooperation from the public in following health protocols.

He continued to advocate for holistic benefits for the country’s healthcare workers, both in the public and private sectors, who have been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.

“Alam n’yo, napakahirap po ng trabaho ng isang frontliner, mga healthcare workers. I support the proposal na magbigay ng maayos na hazard pay para sa mga healthcare workers natin sa private sector. Kung anong sakit, anong mga risk ang nando’n sa public hospital, alam n’yo, ‘yun din naman po ang makikita sa private hospital. Pareho lang po ang risk na kanilang hinaharap,” stressed Go.

“Ang ibig kong sabihin, nakataya diyan ang buhay nila at kalusugan ng ating mga healthcare workers. Hindi naman po limitado ang COVID-19 infection o anumang diseases sa public hospital. Walang pili po ‘yan, ma-public, ma-private, maaari po silang tamaan din po ng sakit.

Kaya lang po balansehin nating mabuti, balansehin po natin ang interes at kapakanan ng ating mga private healthcare workers na mabigyan din sila ng maayos na hazard pay considering their risk and sacrifice, at ang interes din po at financial capacity ng mga private hospitals,” he added.

Go earlier successfully pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 11712 which provides for benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during a state of public health emergency.

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

Under the law, each frontliner will be entitled to a fixed COVID-19 allowance per month of service applied retroactively from July 2021.

In addition, the healthcare workers will be receiving separate compensation if they contract COVID-19 while on duty. For those with mild to moderate symptoms, they will receive PhP15,000 while individuals with severe symptoms or under a critical state will receive PhP100,000.

For those who unfortunately succumb to the virus, the government will be giving PhP1,000,000 to the families they left behind.

“Napansin ko, napakaliit po ng sweldo ng mga nurses sa private hospitals considering na mataas po ang charges sa private hospitals.

Makikita natin sa mga billing, ang lalaki. Still, ang liit pa rin ng sweldo ng mga nurses. Maaaring baka tignan natin nang mabuti at balansehin natin nang mabuti para hindi po umalis ang mga nurses sa ibang bansa,” Go suggested.

“Napipilitan po silang umalis sa ibang bansa. Alam n’yo, hindi nababayaran ang lungkot. Mas nanaisin nilang magtrabaho dito sa ating bansa. Ngunit napipilitan silang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa dahil mababa po ang sweldo rito. Baka pwedeng pag-aralan po ng ating mga private hospitals na bigyan n’yo naman ng kaunting compensation, dagdag swedo ang mga nurses para maengganyo silang manatili dito at magserbisyo po sa ating mga kababayan,” he reiterated.