Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 1) — The government on Wednesday assured the public that its project to build a memorial wall for COVID-19 frontliners will not affect the benefits allocated for health workers, who are clamoring for the release of their special risk allowance (SRA).
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government will spend around ₱2-5 million to construct the Frontliners Memorial Wall Site at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. It will feature murals and the names of fallen frontliners. The government will work with the private sector to complete the project by December, he added.
Amid protests staged by private and public health workers over the delay in their benefits, Galvez said the project is “priceless” since it highlights the sacrifices of COVID-19 frontliners.
“Maliit lang po iyon but that memorial will always symbolize ‘yung heroism. This is beyond our generation. The expense na ibibigay natin doon, that’s priceless,” he said in a media forum.
[Translation: That memorial wall will symbolize their heroism. We will be spending some money, but that memorial is priceless.]
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier gave the Department of Health until Aug. 30 to grant the SRA and other benefits under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2.
The department said a total of 399,325 health workers have already received their SRA.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque on Wednesday sought the creation of a law that will clearly state all those working in medical facilities shall receive COVID-19 special risk allowance.
