All travelers departing from China, Hong Kong and Macau who are over two years old, including American citizens, are covered by the new rules regardless of vaccination status.
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure granting mandatory continuing benefits to public and private health workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and other future public health emergencies.
Republic Act (RA) 11712, inked by Duterte on April 27, covers all healthcare and non-healthcare workers, regardless of employment status, during the Covid-19 or other public health emergencies that may be declared in the future, from the time of the declaration of the public health emergency until lifted by the President, the Presidential Communications Operations Office said.
Under RA 11712, health care and non-healthcare workers are referred to as individuals working in medical facilities and vaccination sites, as well as those involved in Covid-19 response efforts, outsourced personnel exposed to Covid-19, or other public health threats, and village health workers.
The law mandates the government to grant qualified beneficiaries a health emergency allowance (HEA) for every month of service during a state of public health emergency.
The amount, according to the law, will be based on the risk exposure categorization.
Those deployed in “low risk areas” will receive at least P3,000, those in “minimum risk areas” will get at least P6,000, and those in “high risk areas” will be given at least P9,000.
“The HEA shall be released monthly in addition to the existing benefits that the health care and non-healthcare workers receive,” RA 11712 read. “The HEA shall be released in full if a healthcare worker or non-healthcare worker physically renders services for at least 96 hours in a month; otherwise, the benefit shall be prorated.”
Subject to the President’s approval and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Health (DOH) may increase the amounts of the HEA, taking into consideration the cost of necessary expenses incurred by health care and non-healthcare workers in rendering services at the time of public emergency.
The law provides compensation to those who have contracted Covid-19 in the line of duty.
In case of death, PHP1 million will be provided to the heirs of the covered individuals.
In case of sickness, PHP100,000 will be given to the covered individuals with severe or critical cases, while PHP15,000 will be provided to those with mild or moderate cases.
The compensation must be given to the beneficiaries not later than three months after the date of confinement or death and upon submission of complete and compliant documentary requirements.
Full Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) coverage will be granted to hospitalized health workers due to Covid-19.
For future national public health emergencies, PhilHealth coverage for direct health care costs of those admitted to hospital will be subject to fund availability and the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) assessment and recommendation.
