AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee lauded the government’s “much-awaited” release of the last tranche of the health emergency allowance (HEA) for healthcare workers who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upon arrival from his visit to Oas, Albay, Lee said, “We thank President Marcos for fulfilling the promise made to our frontline healthcare workers by finally releasing this much-awaited allowance that has long been due them.”
“Ang allowance na ito ay pagkilala sa kabayanihan ng ating healthcare workers kahit na alam nating hindi matutumbasan ng pera ang kanilang sakripisyo nang piliin nilang magsilbi sa bayan at sa kapwa noong kasagsagan ng pandemya sa kabila ng peligro sa kanilang kaligtasan.”
“Matanggap na sana ito agad ng ating mga healthcare workers sa lalong madaling panahon,” he added.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the remaining P27.453 billion HEA on July 5. The amount covers the 5,039,926 unpaid HEA and 4,283 COVID-19 sickness and death compensation claims of eligible healthcare and non-healthcare workers who served the country during the pandemic.
The solon from Bicol also urged the House of Representatives to approve House Bill No. 6335 declaring March 22 of every year as a special working holiday in remembrance of the heroism of the frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and around the world.
Lee, a staunch health advocate, pointed out that while the allowance release is commendable, much work remains to improve the working conditions and benefits for the healthcare workers.
“Deserve ng ating mga heathcare workers ang mas magandang sahod at benepisyo. They deserve better than waiting for years to receive their allowances and suffering from poor working conditions,” the Bicolano lawmaker said.
“So we should demand better for them. Iparamdam natin sa kanila na nakahanda rin ang Estado na magmalasakit at umaruga sa mga nangangalaga sa mga may karamdaman,” he added.
The solon from Bicol also urged the House of Representatives to approve House Bill No. 6335 declaring March 22 of every year as a special working holiday in remembrance of the heroism of the frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and around the world.
“Our healthcare workers fought to save as many lives as they could working with whatever information and medical intervention they know and the supplies and equipment they have. The roles that they played have been key to us weathering the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic as a country, many among them losing their lives in the line of duty,” he said.
“We must never forget the lessons of the past and remember those who served our country during the darkest days of this generation. Our COVID-19 medical frontliners deserve to take their place in our country’s, and the world’s history and their heroism be memorialized to serve as inspiration to future generations of Filipinos,” he added.
On 22 March 2020, Dr. Romeo “Greg” Macasaet became the first healthcare worker in the Philippines to die of COVID-19. An anesthesiologist at the Manila Doctors Hospital, he worked tirelessly to treat COVID-19 patients in the emergency room until he himself became ill.
“Karapatan ng bawat isa ang patas, mapagmalasakit at de-kalidad na healthcare service. Malaking papel ang ginagampanan at patuloy na gagampanan ng healthcare workers para makamit ang maayos na serbisyong pangkalusugan kung saan Winner Tayo Lahat, kaya hindi sila dapat napag-iiwanan at napapabayaan,” he said.
