CEBU, Philippines — A congressional aspirant is making it his goal to push for a magna carta for frontliners, especially the medical workers including hospital janitors, to increase the monthly take-home fees of these COVID-19 era heroes.
United Frontliners Party of the Philippines nominee Johann Erickson Chiong Evasco vowed to take frontliners’ plight in the front-seat of the country’s law making body.
Evasco, an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reserved officer and an active contributor and volunteer of Union of Filipino Private Healthcare Workers, is determined to help private healthcare workers get decent salaries, particularly hazard fee, which is currently only enjoyed by medical professionals working for government hospitals.
In a press conference, Evasco said the experience of COVID-19 defined the heroism of medical professionals in the country, including those support services like the janitors assigned in COVID-19 Emergency Rooms (ERs) but most of them (if not all) receive salaries less than their worth, let alone the absence of hazard fees. Evasco plans to push for a magna carta for frontliners that also covers the allowances or per diem of barangay healthcare volunteers.
“Some of barangay health workers are purely volunteers and do not receive salary. Yet, they are also discriminated,” he said emphasizing that more than ever, it is time to lift their morale, especially at this time of health safety fragility.
The healthcare sector becomes one of the top performers during the COVID-19 era, Evasco said it is important for the government to take its attention to the new heroes, not just to recognize them in several forms, what is important is to give them the rightful salaries and incentives.
At present, the Philippines only has Republic Act 7305: Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, but none yet to take care of private healthcare workers.
He also mentioned the inspiring plight of delivery service providers, such as the delivery riders, which he also vowed to give due attention if given the chance to be part of the House of Representatives.