Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 3) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday approved the Cabinet’s recommendation to provide additional benefits for healthcare workers on the COVID-19 frontlines.
These include a risk allowance for private medical workers treating COVID-19 patients, a cash aid of ₱10,000 to ₱15,000 for those infected, life insurance, free accommodation, free transportation, as well as free and frequent testing.
Duterte also gave the green light to augment the current workforce by hiring 10,000 medical professionals, as well as distributing 20 million face masks to the poor to further ensure the public’s compliance with minimum health standards.
The recommendations by the Cabinet are part of its response to the concerns raised on Saturday by medical frontliners, who also called on the government to impose a two-week enhanced community quarantine in Mega Manila. The President heeded the call for tighter restrictions, although only partly, as he decided to place only Metro Manila and four other provinces in a modified ECQ from August 4 to 18.
Besides the appeal for imposition of ECQ, healthcare professionals on Saturday urged the government to address workforce shortage, the over-reliance in rapid antibody tests that can provide inaccurate results, and the lack of contact tracing and quarantine facilities nationwide.
They also called on authorities to roll out clear advisories for companies to help guarantee safety in the workplace, and expressed disapproval of the opening of non-essential industries, including gyms, review centers, and pet grooming services.
READ: Metro Manila, 4 provinces to be placed under MECQ upon frontliners’ call for tighter restrictions
