In a message to reporters, DOH explained that two more were added in the list of heirs to receive the compensation, making it supposedly 34. But the new additions were removed from the list due to “issues in the diagnosis” specified in the death certificates of the health workers.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 9) — Thirty out of the 32 families of healthcare workers who died of the coronavirus disease, have received their ₱1 million-worth of cash benefit, a Health official confirmed Tuesday.
Department of Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency is continually coordinating with the other two families who have yet to receive the financial assistance.
“Thirty out of 32 heirs of those who died received their ₱1-million check. The other two have their relatives abroad and we are still coordinating with their families how they can get the money,” Vergeire said.
Meanwhile, all of the 19 healthcare workers who were diagnosed with severe COVID-19, have already received their ₱100,000.
Earlier, the DOH scrambled to beat the deadline in handing out cash benefits to the families of healthcare workers who succumbed to coronavirus disease as well as medical personnel who contracted severe COVID-19.
“Pinipilit naming maibigay sa araw na ito,” Vergeire said in a media forum early on Tuesday.
[Translation: We are trying to give them the money today.]
“Ngayon kapag di natapos sakali, ito ay sa kadahilanang mayroon tayong unforeseen circumstances,” she explained.
[Translation: If we fail to meet the deadline, it is for the reason that there are unforeseen circumstances.]
President Rodrigo Duterte gave the DOH until June 9 to hand over ₱100,000 each to health workers with severe COVID-19 and ₱1 million per family of those who died from the viral illness, as provided in the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.
Duterte gave the order in response to a revelation during a Senate hearing that no infected healthcare worker has received yet the benefits.
CNN Philippines’ correspondent Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report.
