Low-income families to receive as much as Php 8,000 in cash aid
As part of the government’s efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. The bill declares the Philippines in a state of national emergency, granting Duterte 30 powers.
Under the bill, Duterte will be providing 18 million low-income families as much as P8,000 in emergency cash aid depending on the prevailing minimum wage per region. Health workers will be given a special risk allowance on top of hazard pay, while PhilHealth is ordered to shoulder all medical costs to all workers exposed to COVID-19.
In addition, public and private health workers who contract COVID-19 will be given Php 100,000, while the family of health workers who died in duty due to COVID-19 will be given Php 1 million.
Other key points of the bill include:
- Prioritizing savings to DoH, PGH, National Disaster Risk Reduction Fund, DoLE programs, DTI livelihood programs, DA assistance programs, DepED school-based feeding programs, DSWD assistance programs, LGUs, and quick response funds;
- Lifting of the 30% cap on amounts appropriated for the Quick Response Fund;
- Immediate testing of PUIs and PUMs and treatment of COVID-19 patients;
- Direct operation of privately-owned hospitals and medical and health facilities to house health workers, serve as quarantine areas, quarantine centers, medical relief, or other temporary medical facilities;
- Enforce strict price monitoring of critical items like food, clothing, hygiene and sanitation products, medicine and medical supplies; and
- Speedy distribution of health products to address the COVID-19 pandemic
You can read the full provisions of the bill here.