The Senate approved Senate Bill No. 1418 granting special powers to President Rodrigo Duterte include compensating families of public and private health workers who have contracted COVID-19 and died while on duty with P1 million.
During the amendments, each health worker who contracted severe coronavirus infection will also be given P100,000.
Risk allowance and regular hazard pay of health workers is also included in SB No. 1418.
Under this, medical expenses due to coronavirus will be shouldered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
Once adopted by the lower chamber, it will be transmitted to the President for signature. The bill will be effective after publication in newspaper.
Earlier, Duterte called for a special session to grant him special powers to address the spread of coronavirus in the country.