Senator asks DOH to release Covid-19 benefits for health workers 

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go on Thursday called on newly-appointed Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to find ways for the immediate release of payments for the Covid-19 benefits of health workers, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

Go made the call during an ambush interview after joining the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija province.

“Nananawagan po ako na kung may pera na po ang gobyerno, nananawagan po ako sa DBM [Department of Budget and Management], sa DOH, bilisan nyo na po, ibigay nyo na po (If the government already has the funds, I am calling on the DBM, the DOH, to speed up and give) what is due for our health workers," he said.

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The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography said he has been urging for government to give health workers their due even during the time of DOH officer-in-charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire

Earlier, Go welcomed the appointment of Secretary Herbosa, whom he said has vast experience and knowledge in the country’s Covid-19 response, being the adviser of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Upon his appointment, Herbosa assured proper compensation for the country’s health workers, and has committed to push for the increase of their salaries to encourage them to stay and continue working in the country.