Bicam approves P15K for health workers with mild or moderate COVID-19

Healthcare workers who contract mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 will receive P15,000 in cash assistance under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2).

The bicameral conference committee reconciled differing versions of the bill on Friday, August 14.

Senator Sonny Angara, head of the Senate finance committee, confirmed that President Duterte had promised this benefit and healthcare workers had been lobbying for it.

Earlier in the month, Duterte agreed with a recommendation to provide P10,000 to P15,000 in sickness benefits to all healthcare workers infected with COVID-19.

Under the original Bayanihan law, only those with severe cases of COVID-19 were entitled to a P100,000 sickness benefit.