The Commission on Human Rights lauds the move of the government in extending the grant of the special risk allowance (SRA) to all health workers—both private and public—as the country continues to face the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the signing of Administrative Order No. 42 of the President, medical frontliners are entitled to a continuous grant of SRA up to PHP 5,000. The funding of the said grant will come from Republic Act No. 11494 also known as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. The pro-rated SRA shall be based on the number of days a health worker physically reports for work from 15 September 2020 until 20 June 2021.

As such, we urge the government to make the processing of claims as easy and efficient as possible. All healthcare workers deserve the timely release of their salaries, hazard pay, and bonuses for the work that they do in ensuring the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by Covid-19.

Pandemic frontliners should not be made to bear the burden of this pandemic by themselves without meaningful support from both the government and its citizens. As we continue to fight the pandemic, we again ask the public to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families; limit travels to only those that are essential; and remain vigilant against violations of human rights.