PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the grant of P500 per day Covid-19 hazard pay to government employees who are authorized to physically report for work in areas under and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Administrative Order No. 43, which Duterte signed on June 1, said local government units (LGUs) down to the barangays, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) that don’t have enough funds may grant a lower but uniform rate to qualified employees.
Entitled to receive the hazard pay are personnel of national government agencies, state universities and colleges, and GOCCs.
The hazard pay may be granted to authorized personnel without need for approval of the Department of Budget and Management
This new directive amended AO 26 granting hazard pay to government frontliners in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the most stringent form of community quarantine. MECQ is less stringent than ECQ but restrictions are relaxed only a bit.
Under MECQ until June 15 are Santiago City, Cagayan, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Puerto Princesa City, Iloilo City, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Cagayan de Oro City and Butuan City and Agusan del Sur. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)