Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Capitol bats for more benefits for health workers
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio has asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to reconsider its review that trimmed down the benefits of public health workers.
In a letter dated April 16, 2008, the Provincial Government has requested the DBM to re-examine the portion of its "review action" that pertains to Other Additional Compensation of public health workers.
The letter relates to the subsistence allowance, and laundry allowance of the mentioned personnel which were slashed as per DBM's guideline dated March 28, 2008.
Part of the budget of the Provincial Government is the provision for the benefits of health personnel pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 7305, better known as the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers of the Philippines which was approved in 1992.
In compliance with the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Magna Carta issued by the Department of Health (DOH) in November 1999, public health workers in Pampanga have been receiving hazard allowances equivalent to 25 percent of the monthly basic salary of workers receiving salary grade 19 and below and five percent of the monthly basic salary for those with salary grade 20 and above; subsistence allowance of P50 per day or P1,500 per month; and a laundry allowance of P150 per month.
These benefits are granted either monthly, quarterly, or annually.
In its recent review, the DBM has narrowed the subsistence allowance to P30/person/day or P900 per month and pegged the laundry allowance to P125 a month. This, according to the DBM, is pursuant to Section 3 of RA 7305.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Capitol was still waiting for the DBM's opinion as regards the request for reconsidering the allowances since these are already appropriated in the budget of the province.
In keeping with the thrust of the present administration which is to improve the delivery of health services, Panlilio exerts effort toward the amelioration of the benefits of public health workers.
This is with the end view of boosting the personnel's morale thereby eliciting from them first-rate health service that the constituents of the province deserve. (IOF)
