Gov’t eyeing to tap OP fund to compensate health workers – Palace

July 2, 2020

Malacañang said on Thursday that the government might tap funds from the Office of the President for the compensation of health workers who would be critically ill or die due to coronavirus disease.

In a radio interview, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque noted that the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act has already expired last month.

The law provided compensation of P100,000 for each health worker who would be severely ill and P1 million for one who would die due to COVID-19.

"Don't worry, once we have informed and explained to the President that we cannot use anymore the Bayanihan Act, he will get the fund from the Office of the President," he said.

He said that in the case of soldiers who died or wounded in line of service, Duterte provides their family with compensation with the fund coming from his office.

But Roque reiterated that Duterte might call for a special session so that Congress could pass the Bayanihan 2 which provides the budget for the government's COVID-19 response, including benefits for the health workers.

For the first Bayanihan Act, over 30 doctors perished while performing their job due to COVID-19. Their families received the benefits from the government. Celerina Monte/DMS