“Pabor po ako, mayro’n pong ongoing consultation with DOH regarding possible amendments to the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers. Sa ngayon po, inuna ang batas para sa COVID-19 allowances or itong mga incentives po ng ating mga healthcare workers,” Go cited during an ambush interview after he personally led a relief operation in Caloocan City on Monday, November 28.
“Mayroon nang PhP24 billion na pondo sa ilalim ng program appropriations ang 2023 at meron pong PhP52 billion naman po sa unprogrammed. Ako po ay sang-ayon kung saka-sakali man pong taasan ang sweldo ng ating mga healthcare workers dahil grabe po ang sakripisyo nila para sa ating mga kababayan. Bigyan po natin sila ng sapat na sweldo na dapat po para sa kanila. Napakaliit na bagay po ‘yun sa kanilang ginawang sakripisyo po para sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Earlier, the Department of Health stated that it has been pushing to amend the said law to increase the salaries of public healthcare workers, stressing their vital role in this time of crisis.
Apart from increasing the salaries of public HCWs, the DOH also called for the inclusion of healthcare workers in the private sector in the coverage of benefits.
“Kasi kapag may pinatupad, usually public health workers lang po base sa batas natin ngayon. But if we amend this to include both public and private, the private sector will also receive the same amount,” DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire previously stated.
“We are pushing a bill on salary standardization for human resources for health both for public and private and both for the national and local health sectors so there will be no difference as to the salaries,” she added.
Meanwhile, Go, who serves as head of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reassured that he will likewise continue promoting and developing measures to protect the welfare of all healthcare workers. Previously, the lawmaker authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11712 which provides for COVID-19 allowances to medical frontliners.
"The Act covers all public and private medical, allied medical and other personnel like those assigned in hospitals, laboratories and medical or temporary treatment and monitoring facilities,” said Go.
“Mas maraming healthcare workers na ang makakatanggap ng allowance. Hindi na limitado sa mga directly exposed sa COVID-19 patients dahil sabi ko nga, lahat naman ng frontliners na naka-duty sa mga ospital ay maituturing na exposed sa banta ng COVID-19,” he added.
In the recent budget deliberation on the proposed 2023 budget of DOH, Go likewise urged DOH and the Department of Budget and Management to work hand-in-hand in making certain that all healthcare workers immediately get the benefits they deserve.
“Kaya naman nanawagan ako sa DOH at DBM na bilisan ang pamamahagi ng allowances sa ating healthcare workers. Tayo naman po sa Senado, sana maisama natin ang kaukulang budget na kailangan para sa allowances sa susunod na taon pati na yung mga hindi pa nababayaran nga po noong 2021. Importante na mabayaran sila sa kanilang serbisyo,” he underscored.
“Huwag din po sana nating pabayaan ang mga healthcare workers hired during the pandemic. Marami pong healthcare workers ang nangingibang bansa dahil sa oportunidad doon. Hindi naman natin sila masisisi dahil may pamilya po silang binubuhay at kailangan nila ng mas mataas na sahod o malaking kita,” he pointed out.
He likewise requested DOH to allocate adequate funding for its Health Facilities Enhancement Program and the continuation of funding for Super Health Centers, both of which he had been pushing to improve the Filipino’s access to basic healthcare facilities.
Acknowledging the challenges of the marginalized sector in accessing quality healthcare services, Go has earlier filed several health-related bills, such as proposed measures establishing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Virology Institute of the Philippines; Advanced Nursing Education Bill; a bill establishing an Emergency Medical Services System; a bill providing benefits and compensation to Barangay Health Workers; and a bill which seeks to establish Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers nationwide. (PR)
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