Manila, Philippines – Health workers coming from different public hospitals in Metro Manila trooped to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) today to denounce President Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 64, otherwise known as “Updating the Salary Schedule for Civilian Government Personnel and Authorizing Grant of an Additional Allowance, and for other Purposes.”
The Alliance of Health Workers describes the Executive Order No. 64 as stingy, unjust and insulting to the dedicated public health workers and other government employees who have selflessly served the nation, especially during the ongoing challenges posed by public health and economic crises.
According to EO64, a Salary Grade 1 government employee will only receive an increase of P530/month (from P13,000.00 to P13,530.00). If we divide it by 22 working days, it turns out that the salary increase is only P24.00/day. The stingy salary increase is way below the Family Living Wage of P1,100/day or P33,000.00 per month.
“The EO64 of PBBM is unacceptable and unjust. We have been working tirelessly on the front lines, often risking our own health and safety for the well-being of the patients we served. The P530 monthly increase will not alleviate health workers and other government employees worsening economic situation. It will be eroded by tax and monthly premium contributions such as GSIS, Pag-ibig and Philhealth. Essentially, there is no substantial salary increase in the Marcos Jr. administration,” said Sally Ejes, a clerk and president of Philippine Heart Center Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers.
“PBBM fails to recognize our sacrifices and contributions and it is an affront to public health workers untiring commitment serving our fellow countrymen. Ang ganitong klaseng pambabarat sa sahod ay hindi nakaka-engganyo sa mga health workers na manatili sa ating bansa at magtrabaho sa mga pampublikong ospital. It is far from the salary increase that health workers and other government employees demanded. It is important that the salary increase is sufficient, livable, and based on the actual situation and demands of the government employees. It should be a national minimum of P33,000 per month,” stated Robert Mendoza, midwife and national president of AHW.
“Our fellow health workers in the local government units are also discriminated against by the provision of EO64 and political patronage system. They should be treated equally as their national counterparts. Their salary increase is still based on the local government’s ability to provide, limitations and percentage set by the EO64.” Mendoza added.
Moreover, along with the stingy, insufficient and unjust salary increase, PBBM boasted the Medical Allowance for Over a Million Government Workers because “health care is a top priority of this administration.” It remains unclear to us government employees if it’s like an HMO type-benefit, then it requires premium from government employees. And if you are not qualified, you cannot avail yourself of the said allowance.
“If this administration is truly prioritizing the health care, why do government employees have to go through HMO type-benefit like Medical Allowance, why not make it free medical treatment and free hospitalization for all government employees.” Ejes lamented.
Moreover, public health workers also demand from DBM the immediate release of their long overdue Performance Based Bonus for the year 2021 up to 2023. The delay in these bonuses are added to the financial strain faced by many public health workers who have dedicated their lives to caring for others.
“Umaapela kami sa DBM na huwag kaming idamay sa kapalpakan ng opisina ng DOH Sentral kung kaya’t hindi sila makakatanggap ng Performance Based Bonus. Kaming mga health workers ay nagtrabaho ng buong puso at walang kapaguran lumalagpas pa sa 8-16 oras ang aming pagtatrabaho. Thus, release our much-awaited PBB now!” expressed John Paul Gubaton, Vice President, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center Employees Union- Alliance of Health Workers.
We call on our fellow health workers, teachers and other government employees let us unite. Let us continue our fight for a just benefits and living wage that we all deserved.
