President Duterte approves Hazard pay of P500 for government employees during ECQ and MECQ

June 2, 2021 Admin

President Duterte approves Hazard pay of P500 for government employees during ECQ and MECQ

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved today the grant of hazard pay to government personnel who physically report for work during the implementation of an Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).

Every day on the job is a risk of contracting COVID19 for our government/frontline employees. On top of that their transportation expenses doubled amidst social distancing protocols on public utility vehicles.

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President Duterte signed Administrative Order 43 granting the COVID-19 Hazard Pay of P500 per day of reporting for work physically during the ECQ and MECQ period.

Who are qualified for the grant of hazard pay of P500?

Section 1 of AO 43. Grant of the COVID-19 Hazard Pay. National government agencies (NGAs) including state universities and colleges (SUCs) and government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) are authorized to grant COVID-19 Hazard Pay to personnel who physically report for work during the implementation of an ECQ and MECQ in their respective work stations, in an amount not exceeding P500 per day per person.”

What are the conditions of the grant of hazard pay?

Without the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), chiefs of government agencies may grant COVID-19 Hazard Pay to their employees if the following conditions are met:

b. The personnel have been authorized to physically report for work at their respective offices or work stations on the prescribed official working hours by the head of agency or offices during the period of implementation of ECQ and MECQ measures in the area of such office or work station. (Section 2 of AO 43)

Last year April 16, 2020, former Chief PNP PGEN Archie Francisco Gamboa announced the release of Hazard Pay to all qualified PNP personnel at the uniform rate of P500 per day to boost the financial flexibility of PNP troops.