In light of the devastating events of the new coronavirus that has swept the Philippine and

countries all over the world, health workers have been thrust to the frontline to defend against this
common and unseen enemy. These health workers now find themselves in a race against time
to test, treat, and care for the sick and afflicted in anticipation that such efforts could help quell
the spread of the virus that has, so far, claimed the lives of more than 6,500 people worldwide1.

On top of the already pressing danger of being infected with the new coronavirus, the
hazards for health workers have increased even further in view of the lack personal protective
equipment (PPE). Under these present circumstances, the cries for a hazard allowance for health
workers, and non-health workers exposed to equal risks, have grown. This finds even more
relevance following the sudden declaration of an “enhanced community quarantine” covering the
entire Luzon. But what exactly is a ‘hazard allowance’ and who are entitled?

Understanding the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers

In addition to the provisions on salaries as set forth under the Labor Code of the
Philippines, Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7305, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of public health
workers, grants to public health workers a hazard allowance, on top of other allowances provided
therein (e.g. subsistence allowance, longevity pay, laundry allowance and remote assignment
allowance).

Who is a health worker?

A ‘health worker’ has been defined under Section 2 of R.A. No. 7305 as “all persons who
are engaged in health and health-related work, and all persons employed in all hospitals,
sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics
and other health-related establishments owned and operated by the Government or its political
subdivisions with original charters and shall include medical, allied health professional,
administrative and support personnel employed regardless of their employment status.”

How much hazard allowance should public health workers receive?

Under 21 of R.A. No. 7305, health workers shall be compensated with a hazard allowance
equivalent to “at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the monthly basic salary of health workers
receiving salary grade 19 and below, and five percent (5%) for health workers with salary grade
20 and above”.

In accordance with the Section 7.1.5 of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations
of R.A. No. 7305, the hazard allowance may be granted either monthly, quarterly, or annually and
paid on a staggered basis not exceeding five (5) years. In addition, public health workers who are
exposed to a high risk hazard may receive an additional hazard allowance not exceeding five
percent (5%) of the above-prescribed rates.

When are public health workers entitled to a hazard allowance?

Public health workers, covered under Section 212 of R.A. No. 7305, are entitled to receive
a hazard allowance: (a) when the nature of their work exposes them to high/low risk hazards for
at least fifty percent (50%) of their working hours as determined and approved by the Secretary
of Health3;

1
Ben Westcott, Helen Regan, Adam Renton, Meg Wagner and Veronica Rocha, “Live updates: Coronavirus deaths pass 6,500
worldwide”, https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-16-20-intl-hnk/index.html, CNN, 16 March 2020.
2
Section 21 - Public health workers in hospitals, sanitaria, rural health units, main health centers, health infirmaries, barangay health
stations, clinics and other health-related establishments located in difficult areas, strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated
stations, prisons camps, mental hospitals, radiation-exposed clinics, laboratories or disease-infested areas or in areas declared under
state of calamity or emergency for the duration thereof which expose them to great danger, contagion, radiation, volcanic
activity/eruption, occupational risks or perils to life as determined by the Secretary of Health or the Head of the unit with the approval
of the Secretary of Health, shall be compensated hazard allowances equivalent to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the monthly
basic salary of health workers receiving salary grade 19 and below, and five percent (5%) for health workers with salary grade 20 and
above.
3
Section 7.1.1 of Republic Act No. 7305.