Año to ask Cainta mayor to explain delay in hazard pay, special risk allowance

October 9, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday will issue a show cause order against Cainta Mayor Kit Nieto for him to explain the delay in the release of hazard pay and special risk allowance to qualified personnel , including the nurse who died due to COVID-19 and was not immediately given assistance.

In a statement, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said their legal service recommended to  Año to issue a show cause order to Nieto requiring him to explain in writing and under oath why no administrative case should be filed against him for the “inexcusable delay” in the release of hazard pay and special risk allowance.

“We shall issue the Show Cause Order against the mayor of Cainta in due course,” it said.

Upon learning of the death of medical frontliner Theresa Cruz on July 22 and the complaint raised by her family, Año formed a fact-finding committee to look into the possible lapses of the Cainta local government unit and hospital officials.

DILG said they gave all the officials concerned, including Nieto, an opportunity to present their side by presenting pertinent documents .

It said the committee investigated if Cainta complied with Administrative Orders 26 and 28 which directed local government units to provide risk allowances and special risk allowances to their local medical frontliners.

The committee also looked into the alleged delay in the provision of these allowances to local health workers particularly to Cruz.

“After careful scrutiny and investigation, our legal service found that all benefits due the deceased were granted by the LGU, however, ‘there is indeed a considerable delay in the release of such benefits to the qualified personnel of the local government unit’,” DILG said.

“Our legal service found that based on the disbursement vouchers of the LGU, both the hazard pay and special risk allowance for the months of March, April, and May 2020 were released to concerned personnel only on 05 August 2020,” it added.

The DILG assured the public they are committed in ensuring the health and well-being of all medical front liners in all LGUs as well as in the uniformed services.

“The success of our fight against COVID, our on-going ability to flatten the curve, and the continuing decreasing trend in the number of active cases is anchored in our country’s ability to take care of our medical frontliners who are at the front and center of the battle against the global pandemic,” it said.

“We shall immediately act on all reports of mistreatment, discrimination, unsafe working conditions, as well as delay in the provision of benefits due to our health workers because their very lives depend on it. They are our modern heroes,” it added. Ella Dionisio/DMS