Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine Constitution under Article II, Section 15 expresses its policy that the State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them. A Presidential Proclamation No. 922 declaring a State of Public Health Emergency 
throughout the Philippines was issued last 8 March 2020 and still remains in force up to now as 
it is not yet withdrawn nor lifted by the President. Currently after a year, the Covid-19 outbreak 
remains to threaten our national security and public health making our country chiefly dependent 
to our health workers who serve as our protectors from said virus. 
The country’s health workers, doctors and other frontliners in the health sector tirelessly serve 
and cure those infected with the virus although most of them do not receive the benefits due to 
them. It is hard to ignore raging news information that overworked nurses and doctors stage 
protests with threats of mass resignations if the government do not make them feel important 
through provision of allowances/benefits. We must acknowledge that our nation cannot afford to 
have closed hospitals and understaffed health facilities especially now that the virus is mutating 
with precarious variants. 
This bill seeks to appreciate their significant role by emphasizing their continuing benefits as 
stated under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act “Bayanihan 2” even 
though said law already lapsed last 30 June 2021. This law expressed those benefits of the health 
workers will be granted as long as the declaration of the national emergency is not yet withdrawn 
by the President. Granting the urgent need of this legislation, we urge its immediate approval and 
enactment. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 13, 2021
11:17 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT GRANTING CONTINUING COVID-19 BENEFITS TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
HEALTH WORKERS DURING THE PERIOD OF THE PANDEMIC AND PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known and cited as “COVID-19 Benefits for Health 
Workers Act of 2021.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy – The State shall instill health consciousness among our 
people and recognizes that adequate support to our health workers, in public and private sectors, 
is a paramount to ensure continuous delivery of health services especially during the existence of 
a national public health emergency. Towards this end, it shall safeguard the welfare of our health 
workers and guarantee that all benefits owing to them shall be provided to them with utmost 
efficiency. 
SECTION 3. Coverage – This Act shall apply to all public and private health workers during the 
period of the Covid-19 pandemic, regardless of employment status. Public and private health 
workers shall refer to medical, allied medical, and other necessary personnel assigned in hospitals, 
health care facilities, laboratories, medical or quarantine facilities, or vaccination sites and those 
administering medical assistance. It also includes non-medical workers and outsourced personnel 
hired under institutional or individual contract or service or job order basis who are similarly 
exposed to Covid-19. 
SECTION 4. Continuing Grant of COVID-19 Benefits – The national government shall 
provide the following benefits to covered individuals under Section 3 hereof: 
(a) Covid-19 special risk allowance and active hazard duty pay for every month
served: Provided, That the special risk allowance and active hazard duty pay shall be in addition 
to existing benefits being received by health workers under existing laws; 
(b) Provision of life insurance, accommodation, transportation, and meals,
regardless of the community quarantine status; and 
(c) Provision of compensation to those who have contracted Covid-19 in the line
of duty, with the following amounts, upon submission of required documents to support claims: 
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(1)  In case of death of the covered individual, One million pesos 
(P1,000,000) shall be provided to the heirs of the covered individuals; 
(2) In case of sickness, for a severe or critical case, One hundred thousand 
pesos (P 100,000) shall be provided to the covered individuals; and 
(3) In case of sickness, for a mild or moderate case, Fifteen thousand pesos 
(P15,000) shall be provided to the covered individuals: 
Provided, that the compensation provided herein shall be given to the 
beneficiaries not later than three (3) months after the date of confinement 
or death. 
 
 
The provision of the foregoing benefits shall have retroactive application from July 
1, 2021 and shall remain in full force and effect during the state of national health emergency as 
declared by the President. 
 
SECTION 5. Tax Exemption – The benefits received by covered workers under this Act, during 
the period of the Covid-19 pandemic shall be exempt from income tax. 
 
SECTION 6. Appropriations – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall 
be charged against the current year available appropriations of the Department of Health. 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continuous implementation shall be included in the 
Annual General Appropriations. 
 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Management 
shall promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, executive issuances or 
letters of instruction, rules and regulations or any part thereof, inconsistent with or contrary to 
the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause – If, for any reason or reasons, any part or parts of this Act 
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by any competent court, other sections or provision 
hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause – This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,