By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday (Jan. 22) said healthcare workers in the country’s fight against the prevailing pandemic will be receiving a COVID-19 allowance amounting to P3,000 to P9,000 per month.
“Ito pong bagong polisiya na ito, iyong One COVID-19 Allowance, ito po ay ipapatupad natin para mas marami tayong healthcare workers na mabigyan, maging mas rational din po ang ating pag-eestima kung sino ang dapat makatanggapap,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
Healthcare workers will be receiving the allowances based on their work and exposure, which are classified as high, moderate, and low.
“Ang matatanggap ng ating healthcare workers that will be classified as high-risk would be P9,000 per month. Iyon namang moderate-risk ay P6,000. Iyon pong low-risk ay P3,000,” Vergeire said.
“Specific tayo doon sa policy kung ano-anong mga facilities ang high risk, moderate, at saka low risk,” she said, adding that Rural Health Units (RHU), Centers for Health Development (CHD) offices, and regional offices are considered low risk.
“[Ang] mga ospital ay high-risk because they’re handling patients. Pero mayroong ding mga opisina katulad ng mga administrative services that are within hospitals that we will consider also… Sa ospital, regardless of level of service, high-risk ang kanilang classification.” -ag
