Health workers stage protest

MANILA, Philippines — Reminding the government of their unpaid benefits, health workers held a protest yesterday at the Department of Health (DOH)’s central office in Manila.

Members of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) are calling for a salary increase, the release of their bonuses and allowances as well as regularization of contractual employees.

“Health workers remain burdened by low salaries, delayed benefits, understaffing, job insecurity, unsafe working conditions and the threat of red-tagging,” AHW secretary general Cristy Donguines said.

“Since Secretary (Ted) Herbosa assumed leadership of the DOH, we have not felt his presence as a supportive head of the agency,” Donguines said.