FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged the government to defuse the brewing unrest among healthcare workers (HCWs) by releasing not only their Special Risk Allowance (SRA) but all pending benefits due them.

In a radio interview, Marcos voiced his concern after several HCW groups threatened to conduct mass resignations and stage mass protests over the chronic delays in the issuance of their benefits such as Special Risk Allowance (SRA), Active Hazard Duty Pay (AHDP), and Meals, Accommodation and Transport (MAT).

Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), a militant health workers group, on Sunday said they will conduct walkouts starting Monday morning, August 30 in 10 private hospitals which include the Chinese General Hospital in Manila.

AHW added that walkouts will also be staged in government run institutions such as the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

“Maliban sa SRA na itinadhana ng Bayanihan Act, dapat lamang na agarang mabayaran ng buo kabilang dito ang hazard pay at Meals, Accommodation and Transport (MAT) benefits ng ating mga healthcare workers,” Marcos said.

Marcos encouraged lawmakers to fast-track the amendment of a provision in the Bayanihan Act that mandates SRAs and AHDPs are exclusive to HCWs directly taking care of COVID-19 patients.

“Doon naman sa SRA at AHDP ay SANA ALL! Kaya nananawagan tayo sa ating mga mambabatas na sana madaliin ang pag-amyenda sa probisyon ng batas na nagsasaad lamang ng exclusivity para sa healthcare workers na direktang nag-aasikaso sa Covid19 patients,” Marcos added.

Marcos argued that all frontline HCWs face the same risks in the workplace and all deserve to be treated fairly since they have the crucial task of taking care of the sick in this time of the pandemic.

He also urged the Department of Health (DOH) to spearhead efforts to improve the welfare of HCWs.

“Lahat ng taong kabilang sa healthcare workforce, mula doktor, nurse, hospital staff hanggang janitorial services at contact tracers ay pare-pareho ang peligrong kinahaharap na dulot ng COVID-19,” he added.

“Nararapat lang nating kalingain ang mga taon inaasahan nating kakalinga sa mga maysakit sa panahong tulad ngayon. At ang DoH ang dapat na nanguna sa pagtataguyod sa kapakanan ng healthcare workers,” he said.

The DOH said it has earmarked P311 million to pay for the SRAs of 20,000 HCWs but healthcare group Filipino Nurses United says it is not enough considering there are currently 1.8 million healthcare workers in the country.

Meanwhile, AHW is also appealing for a “liberal interpretation of the law” to enable all HCWs to receive the SRAs and AHDPs.

Marcos pressed the government to urgently resolve the issue with HCWs to ensure enough medical staff are looking after COVID-19 patients and prevent the entire healthcare system from collapsing.

The latest data released by the DOH last week showed a 75% occupancy rate for the 4,200 ICU beds in the country.

“Kailangan nating matiyak na sapat ang medical staff na mag-aalaga sa mga may sakit kaya’t hindi na sila dapat mabawasan pa dahil kung umabot sa sukdulan ang problemang idinaraing ng mga kawani sa mga ospital ay baka mag-collapse ang healthcare system sa ating bansa,” Marcos said.

Marcos added that the DOH should reposition medical staff from areas with low COVID-19 cases to public hospitals in need of additional manpower. He also suggested tapping the AFP’s Medical Corps and medical reservists as an alternative source of additional medical staff.

As part of a long-term solution, Marcos also pushed for the passage of the Medical Reserve Corps Act pending in the Senate.