Continuing misery of health-care workers

With the resurgence of COVID-19, Republic Act No. 11712 which grants mandatory continuing benefits and allowances to public and private health-care workers (HCW) was approved in 2022. Unfortunately, the benefits and allowances for 2022 have yet to be paid them, on the oft-repeated excuse that the government has “no funds available.” Other cases of legislated laws (universal health care, universal social pension, National Commission of Senior Citizens, etc.) are likewise beset by the same predicament of “no adequate allocated budget” to support the proper implementation of these laws. Indeed, we are a country rich in laws but poor in implementation! With regards to RA 11712, may I strongly suggest that legislators immediately activate their “oversight functions,” among others, by calling on the stakeholders (implementing government agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Budget and Management, etc.) to submit a report and/or clarify the reasons for the delay in the payment of the benefits and allowances due HCWs to date?

We expect so much from our HCWs, especially during the pandemic and yet we cannot even expeditiously give them the benefits for the jobs they’ve already completed. Is this how we treat our so called “heroes” who have rendered invaluable emergency services to those who were victims of the pandemic? Do we expect them to remain in our country as HCWs when they are continuously being neglected and deprived of the benefits and allowances due them? No wonder the lure of working abroad among our HCWs continues.

Emiliano M. Manahan Jr.,
advocate and author,
[email protected]