President Rodrigo Duterte issues Administrative Order (AO) 43 granting hazard pay to government employees on duty amid COVID 19 threats during the MECQ period implemented from April 12 to May 31.
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Administrative Order 43
Administrative Order AO 43 authorizes the grant of Hazard Pay to Government personnel who physically report for work during the period of implementation of an Enhanced Community Quarantine and a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine amending Administrative Order 26 s. 2020 and for other purposes.
Who can receive the hazard pay?
National government agencies (NGA), including State Universities and Colleges (SUC) and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC), are authorized to grant COVID-19 hazard pay to personnel who physically report to work during the implementation of an Enhanced Community Quarantine and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine in their respective workstations.
Workers who occupy regular, contractual or casual positions in the National Capital Region and other local government units are included. As well as the personnel who are engaged through a contract of service, job order or similar schemes are also qualified.
How much is the Hazard Pay for Government employees?
COVID 19 Hazard Pay = not exceeding P500/day per person.
It can be computed as follows:
P500 x Number of days physically reporting for work during the quarantine
Personnel who are already entitled to Hazard Pay or other similar benefits under existing laws, issuances, rules, and regulations such as the public health workers, public social workers, science and technology personnel, and military and uniformed personnel, shall continue to be entitled to such benefits or the COVID 19 hazard Pay, whichever is higher.
Conditions on the grant of COVID 19 hazard pay
The heads of government agencies may grant the COVID-19 Hazard Pay to their personnel without the need for further approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), provided the following conditions are met:
a. The personnel are occupying regular, contractual or casual positions, or are engaged through COS, JO or other similar schemes;
b. The personnel has 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 office during the period of implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine measures in the area of such office or work station:
c. The rate of COVID-19 Hazard Pay shall be based on the number of days an employee physically reports for work using the formula above.
Fund Sources
For NGAs, including SUCs, the hazard pay will be charged against their own funds without the need for prior authority from the DBM. For GOCCs, the amount required will be charged against their budget for the current fiscal year and, in case they do not have sufficient funds, they may grant a lower but uniform rate for all qualified personnel.
Employees in LGUs and local water districts may also be entitled to the hazard pay but, as with GOCCs, the amount may be at a lower but uniform rate in case of insufficient funds.
Hazard pay may also be granted to employees in the Senate, House of Representatives, the Judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, and other constitutional offices vested with fiscal autonomy.