Gov’t urged to tap unused Bayanihan 2 funds for healthcare workers’ allowances
HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Niña Taduran has called on the government to immediately put an end to the unreleased special risk allowance of healthcare workers, particularly nurses in private hospitals who are assigned to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wards.
Taduran said it is unacceptable that almost two years into the pandemic, these nurses have not received any benefits under the enacted Bayanihan Law, the government’s financial response to the COVID-19 situation.
She said the government can utilize the unused funds of Bayanihan Act 2 worth P18 billion through the special powers granted to the President or via an extension of the said legislation.
“Ang mga nurses ang nasa harapan ng laban sa pandemya. Sa katunayan, sila ang madalas na personal na kasama ng pasyenteng may COVID. Ilang nurses na rin ang nabalitaan nating nagka-COVID, lumubha ang kalagayan at ang iba pa nga ay namatay. Bakit hindi maibigay sa kanila ang kakarampot na nga lang na proteksyon sa pamamagitan ng special risk allowance?” Taduran asked.
Taduran said it is unfair that public hospital nurses have been given the said allowance but the private hospital nurses were left to fend for themselves.
“Nais nating maiwasan ang pag-collapse ng ating health system dahil sa ganitong problema. Alam naman nating hindi matitiis ng nurses ang kanilang mga pasyente at patuloy pa rin nilang tutuparin ang kanilang tungkulin, pero may hangganan din ang kanilang pasensya. Hindi puwedeng bigay lang sila ng bigay na wala namang katapat na dagdag kompensasyon. Give them their dues,” Taduran said.
The special risk allowance of each nurse is at P5,000 per month, and is pro-rated depending on the number of days a health care worker physically reports for work in a month, as certified by their heads.
