Health workers and their union led by the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) have launched intensive protests and mass actions this December. The AHW have taken weekly actions in hospitals and government agencies.

From December 5 to December 12, protests have been held by unions from the Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines and Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital and Fabella Hospital in Metro Manila.

On December 13, they stormed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to demand the swift release of funds for their benefits.

The group also denounced the appointment of Department of Health Secretary (DOH) Teodoro Herbosa. They say Herbosa is unfit as DOH secretary because he is anti-health workers, a Red-tagger, and supports privatization of public hospitals and health services.