Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18" Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No,_8796

Rep. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The deadly COVID19 pandemic that hit the country and the world has caused a
serious health crisis which disrupted our normal way of life and the way we conduct work,
business and our general day to day activities. The highly infectious disease has proven
to be a challenge most especially to our medical health workers such as doctors, nurses,
medical technologists and other health workers. It also poses a threat to other workers in
the frontlines such as law enforcement personnel, barangay workers and other essential
employees.

They are the so-called frontliners in the fight against COVID 19. They risk their
lives and the health of their families as well, to serve and fight against the pandemic and
number of them has paid the ultimate sacrifice in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities
in order for us to live and to ensure our people are safe and our basic needs are met in
the midst of this raging war against an unseen enemy.

In the backdrop of the present and future health and socio-economic crisis that will
be brought about by pandemics, epidemics, natural or man-made calamities and other
health and safety hazards, it is but fitting to entitle our frontiners to hazard pay in
recognition of their sacrifices and risks encountered in their service to humanity and the
nation.

This humble representation believes that no amount of monetary compensation is
ever enough to fully compensate for the risks associated during these types of situations
and the sacrifices our frontliners must endure to perform their tasks, the entitlement of
hazard pay will be a morale booster to them in continuing to serve for our people.

In further driving home the point of this proposed measure, let me quote a
‘statement made by the president of the US National Association for Home Care and
Hospice in an article about fronliners’ hazard pay which says, “While those risks can be


mitigated by way of appropriate protective equipment, training and everything else, the
risk is stil there. Risk in itself, generally, deserves financial support — and not just a pat

‘on the back.”

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of the bill is earnestly sought.

. AUMENTADO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

48" Congress
First Regular Session

6796

House Bill No.

Rep. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado

AN ACT
PROVIDING HAZARD PAY TO ALL FRONTLINERS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SECTORS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS DURING PANDEMICS, EPIDEMICS,
OUTBREAKS, NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTERS AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCIES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress Assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy - it is hereby declared a policy of the State to
constantly strengthen the support to frontliners and other essential workers of the country
during the health emergencies by providing them with additional compensation to ensure
financial security.

SECTION 2. Hazard Pay - a) Frontliners with direct contact with the patients or
with high risk exposure to hazards, private or public employees who are required to report
for duty during pandemics, epidemics, outbreak natural or man-made disasters shall
receive an additional One Thousand Pesos (Php. 1,000.00) compensation per day of
work without tax.

b) Frontliners and other essential workers of public and private sectors who are
required to report for duty but not in direct contact or exposed to hazards during
pandemics, epidemics, outbreaks, natural, man-made disasters shall receive an
additional Five Hundred Pesos (Php. 500.00) compensation per day of work without tax.

SECTION 3. Scope — The coverage of this Act shall include all frontliners regular,
contractual, job order employees including barangay health workers.

SECTION 4. Prohibition against Elimination or Diminution of Benefits — This
additional renumeration shall affect or reduce any of the existing benefits under the
current policies of the State and all concerned agencies.


SECTION 5. Effectivity - this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in official gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.