Health frontliners’ benefits continue as Bayanihan 2 expires

MANILA, Philippines — While the law itself has expired, “Bayanihan 2” has provisions for the continuance of benefits of medical frontliners, among others, because the state of national emergency declared by President Duterte remains in place, a lawmaker said yesterday.

Sen. Sonny Angara, who sponsored both the Bayanihan 2 law and Republic Act 11519 which extended the availability of its funds until June 30, said specific provisions of the law remain in effect past its expiration such as the benefits of health workers battling the pandemic.

“One of the key features of Bayanihan 2 is the benefits provided to our heroic health workers,” Angara said. “It was the clear intent of Congress that the grant of these benefits should not cease even after Bayanihan 2 and the law extending the availability of B2 funding expires.”

He said these benefits include the compensation for those who contract COVID-19 in the line of duty; the grant of special risk allowance; actual hazard duty pay for those serving in the front lines; medical expense coverage in case of exposure to COVID or work-related injury or disease; and the provision of life insurance, accommodation, transportation and meals.

“The battle against COVID-19 and its variants does not end with the expiry of these laws so we must continue to provide support to our health workers at least until the state of national emergency is lifted by the President,” added Angara, who chairs the Senate committee on finance.

Under Bayanihan 2, public and private health workers who contract COVID-19 while in the line of duty are compensated as follows: P15,000 in case of sickness for a mild or moderate case; P100,000 for severe and critical cases, and P1 million in case of death, he said.