Labella appeals more patience amid delay in frontliners’ aid

CEBU, Philippines —  More than eight months into the coronavirus pandemic in Cebu City, the incentive earlier promised to medical workers in private hospitals remain nowhere in sight and Mayor Edgardo Labella is appealing one thing – more patience.

Labella last month said the city government would start giving out incentives before September would end.

“Definitely, una mahuman ang Setyembre, mahatag natog una ang tag tig P10,000 sa buwan sa Agosto. And so on so forth. Sunod, dali na lang,” he was quoted as saying back then.

However, the processing of the incentive turned out to be more complicated than what the mayor thought.

Labella, this time, said the incentive is now being processed by the City’s Accounting Department.

“Ang incentives para sa atong mga health workers naa na karon sa atong accounting department. It is being processed,” said Labella yesterday.

He reiterated that this is the first time that the city government is giving incentive or honorarium to private health workers.

Earlier, Labella explained that there are documentary requirements that need to be complied with so they won’t have problems with the Commission on Audit. These requirements caused the delay of the release, he said.

The city first promised to give out incentive last July to somehow boost the morale of the worn-out health workers in the private hospitals who are receiving meager salaries than their counterparts in the government hospitals.

Labella appealed anew for the frontliners’ patience on this matter.

“I am just appealing to our frontliner health workers nga mgahuwat na lag gamay dili man gud ing-ana kadali because the amount is so big and of course, this is the first time that the local government, the city government is giving incentives or honorarium to private health workers,” he said.

“Ang akong masulti naa na karon sa Accounting office and in a matter of time ma-release na na siya,” he added.

Each medical frontliner, including doctors, nurses, medical technologists, nursing aide, respiratory therapists and other medical health workers certified by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI), will get P10,000 per month for three months.

It is not clear, however, whether the city government will give similar incentive to those who worked earlier than July when the COVID-19 cases in the city were peaking. — JMD (FREEMAN)