House approves bill for continuous healthcare worker benefits

The House of Representatives approved on second reading a bill seeking to provide continuous benefits to healthcare workers during public health emergencies, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Representative Angelica Natasha Co called on the Senate to reconsider its version of the bill, noting that it is specific to the current pandemic while the House Bill covers all public health emergencies.

The bill aims to grant mandatory continuing benefits to public and private healthcare workers, as well as barangay health workers, during national public health emergencies.

Under the measure, health workers will receive a special risk allowance based on their level of exposure: PHP3,000 for low-risk areas, PHP6,000 for medium-risk areas, and PHP9,000 for high-risk areas.