Alliance of Health Workers
PRESS RELEASE
July 2, 2012
Reference: Jossel
I. Ebesate, AHW National President, Mobile number: 0918-9276381
Emma S. Manuel,
AHW President Emeritus, Mobile number: 0932-5224068
Indignant health workers storm the gates of the Department
of Health today to protest the Department Memorandum Order stopping the release
of health workers’ Hazard Pay.
DOH issued Memorandum Order No 2012-0181 on June 25, which
ordered immediate stop in the payment of hazard pay and augmentation for
laundry and subsistence allowances “to ensure uniform implementation and avoid
future disallowances” until DBM approve the use of savings.
“Our health, lives and welfare are at stake! Where is the
heart of DOH, Department of Budget & Management (DBM) and President Aquino
for withholding our hard-earned benefits?,” said Jossel Ebesate, national
president of Alliance of Health Workers. “Instead of upholding our rights and
benefits and the patients’ welfare, the DOH is defending the inadequate budget
for public hospitals and pushing the privatization of health services.”
Since January this year, health workers are protesting
against the delay and decrease in hazard pay and other benefits as per DOH and
DBM memoranda citing the provision in the General Appropriations Act requiring
DBM approval for use of agency saving for benefits.
Hazard pay for most health workers is 25% of their basic
salary, worth P2,000-P8,000/month per employee. This and other benefits are
mandated by the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305). No fund was
allotted for Magna Carta benefits since its approval in 1992, instead were charged
to agency savings. DBM is now proposing a Joint Circular setting new guidelines
for Magna Carta benefits which will reduce most benefits of health workers.
“The government, DOH and DBM are giving us the run-around. They
mouth universal health care, but are actually starving us health workers and
making poor patients pay for public health services. This is hazardous to
health workers and people’s health!” Ebesate said.
Health workers will hold a series of actions which will peak
on President Aquino’s 3nd SONA.#
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