Duterte Signs: Active Hazard Pay for Frontliners is Finally Approved

President Rodrigo Duterte signed two administrative orders authorizing additional compensation to be given directly in touch with COVID-19 patients to frontline health staff and to public and private health employees.

In view of this, AO No. 35 approved the awarding during the state of national emergency of active threat service pay to health employees working on the frontlines. Meanwhile, AO No. 36 approved the awarding of a special risk allowance to private and public health staff immediately attending or in touch with patients with COVID-19.

Under AO 35, all human capital for health may be given active threat duty pay of up to P3,000 per month by national government departments, government-owned or managed companies, and local government units.

Another thing, The health, related medical and other public sector workers participating in the national health care solution try to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and deter further loss of life are referred to as human capital for health.

The COVID-19 active threat service pay award is pro-rated on the basis of the number of days physically registered by frontline health employees in a month, measured from Sept. 15, 2020 through Dec. 19, 2020. Many engaged and sponsored by non-personnel facilities accounts without employer-employee partnerships are exempt from the grant of active threat duty pay

Under AO No. 36, public and private health employees who specifically provide for COVID-19 patients are entitled to award special risk allowances not exceeding P5,000 per month to national government departments, government-owned or managed companies, and local government units. The allowance is excluded from tax on wages.

The award of the allowance shall be pro-rated on the basis of the number of days physically registered for work by health staff within a month as approved by the Director of the Health Agency or Facility from 15 Sept. 2020 until 19 Dec. 2020. Those without employer-employee partnerships involved and financed by funds for non-personnel programs are not affected by the order.

The sum expected to offer the danger pay and special risk allowance would come from the P13.5 billion designated to Recover as One Act under Bayanihan.