MANILA: Frontline public health workers will receive a special risk allowance (SRA) during the enhanced community quarantine period in the Philippines.
President Rodrigo Duterte has since signed the administrative order authorising the grant.
According to the Manila Times, under Administrative Order 28, national government agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations and local government units “are authorised to grant a one-time Covid-19 SRA, equivalent to a maximum of 25 per cent of monthly basic salary, to Public Health Workers (PHWs), who have great exposure to health risks and physical hardships in the line of duty in light of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
PHWs are defined as “medical, allied medical, and other necessary personnel assigned in hospitals and healthcare facilities and who are directly catering to or in contact with Covid-19 patients, persons under investigation or persons under monitoring”.
The grant of the allowance shall be pro-rated based on the number of days that they physically report for work.