Healthcare workers directly in contact with patients of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will continue to receive their Covid-19 special risk allowance (SRA) under a new administrative order (AO) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

AO 42, signed by Duterte on Tuesday, amends AO 36, which grants Covid-19 SRA of up to P5,000 per month to private and public health works with direct exposure to Covid-19 patients.

Duterte signed the AO “to recognize the heroic and invaluable contribution of our health workers throughout the country, who bravely and unselfishly risk their lives and health by being at the forefront of national efforts to respond to the pandemic.”

“National government agencies, government-owned or –controlled corporations, and local government units are hereby authorized to further grant the Covid-19 SRA authorized under AO No. 36…” the AO read.

Under the amended AO, the grant of the Covid-19 SRA shall be pro-rated based on the number of days that the frontline health workers physically report for work in a month, as certified by the head of the hospital, laboratory, or medical and quarantine facility, or his/her authorized representatives, reckoned from Sept. 15, 2020 until June 30, 2021.

All claims for the payment of the SRA to public and private health workers shall be validated by the Department of Health.

The amounts required for the implementation of this order shall be sourced from the P13.5 billion appropriated under Section 10(a) of RA No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Bayanihan 1) for health-related responses to Covid-19.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall release the funds for the payment of the SRA, consistent with existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules, and regulations.

The additional funding necessary for the continued grant of the SRA until June 30, 201 shall be charged against any appropriate funding source as authorized under RA No 11494, the appropriations for which have been extended for release, obligation, and disbursement until 30 June 2021, pursuant to Section 1 of RA No. 11519.

The DBM shall release the funds for the payment of the SRA, consistent with existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules, and regulations.

Except to the extent modified by the foregoing, all other provisions of AO No. 36 shall remain in full force and effect, the AO said.

All issuances, orders, rules, and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly, it added.