Frontliners to get hazard pay Friday

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government will start releasing on Friday the hazard pay promised to the barangays serving at the forefront of COVID-19 response.

So far, 17 barangays have complied with the requirements to avail of the hazard pay. Cebu City has 80 barangays.

These barangays include Banilad, Bulacao, Capitol Site, Inayawan, Luz, Kalubihan, Kinasang-an, Pahina San Nicolas, Pasil, Sawang Calero, Sudlon I, Suba, San Nicolas Proper, Sapangdaku, San Antonio, Santo Nino and Tabunan.

Those who will receive the hazard pay include the barangay officials and employees including the tanods. Each barangay is entitled to a maximum of 100 workers to get such pay.

Mayor Edgardo Labella said each one will get P250 per day from March 28 to May 31.

Just like the cash incentives for medical frontliners in private hospitals, the hazard pay for the barangay workers took some time to be released due to the requirements set forth by the Commission on Audit.

“Others have to hurry up in the submission of the requirements so they will be given hazard pay from the city government,” said Labella.

Employees/workers who physically report for work during the quarantine period, and have adopted similar work arrangements as provided for under Administrative Order No. 26 of President Rodrigo Duterte can avail of the pay, according to the Department of Budget and Management circular no.2020-1.

The pay “shall be determined by their respective Sanggunian depending on the local government units’ financial capability, at rates not exceeding P500/day per person.

Should an LGU have insufficient funds to fully cover the COVID-19 hazard pay at the rate of P500/day per person, a lower but uniform rate may be granted for all qualified personnel. — Dicee May Padilla, KQD (FREEMAN)