On Heroes’ Day, August 26, health workers dubbed “modern-day heroes” protested in front of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Quezon City to demand from the Marcos regime their rights, long-delayed benefits, and additional budget for health. Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) led the action.

In the protest, AHW expressed their solidarity with the Filipino people in commemorating Heroes’ Day which is marked to honor the bravery of Filipinos who fought and struggled for the country’s freedom. “We also express our sincere gratitude and recognition to our fellow health workers’ heroism who have wholeheartedly dedicated their skills, time and lives during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Benjamin Santos, public relations officer of AHW, said.

Health workers said the Marcos regime considers them “modern-day heroes” but continues to ignore and disregard their grievances. The sector is among those Ferdinand Marcos Jr mentioned and acknowledged in his speech that day.

“More than a year since the state of public health emergency was lifted by President Marcos Jr but our fellow health workers in LGUs and private hospitals are NOT yet fully paid of their health emergency allowances,” Santos said. “Where is the P27B budget released by the Department of Budget and Management go?”

He said that the sectors was further insulted by the recent stingy salary increase ordered through the Marcos regime’s Executive Order No. 64. Marcos only gave a meager ₱530 increase to Salary Grade 1 Step 1 employees or ₱24 per day. Nurse 1 SG 15 will only receive an additional ₱81.55 per day.

“How can we stretch the meager and insufficient wages increase? We can hardly buy a kilo of rice,” Edwin Pacheco, president of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute Employees Association-AHW, said. AHW has long called for the ₱33,000 monthly salary to SG1 staff.

AHW also reiterated their demand for performance-based bonuses for health workers for the year 2021-2023. They also call for the regularization and bulk addition of health workers to cope with the severe shortage of personnel in hospitals.