Duterte assures food, shelter for healthcare workers evicted in rented establishments for fear of COVID-19 infection

September 1, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has assured healthcare workers who have been evicted by their landlords that the government will provide them shelter and food.

In a televised message on Monday night, Duterte said he received reports that some health workers, such as nurses, being "summarily dismissed" from their residences whether leased or rented.

"You are booted out because of the unfounded fear that you will infect the owners of the houses and your colleagues in the dormitory," he said.

"We must have a mechanism. We will support them. We can always rent," he said, noting that they can live in the hotels, which are mostly vacant now.

The President advised those who will experience such to call directly the office of National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez.

"We will provide you with the necessary billeting and also food and we will choose a place nearest to where you are working," he said.

In jest, he said the names of the owners of the buildings or houses who shoo away the health workers can be submitted to his office and he will call their attention publicly so that when they also get sick, they will not be admitted in the hospital.

"May be it's better tit-for-tat," he further joked.

Duterte appealed not to discriminate the health workers. Celerina Monte/DMS