Statement

On Administrative Order No. 26


President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Administrative Order No. 26 today, March 23, 2020, granting hazard pay (COVID-19 Hazard Pay) to government personnel who report for work, with retroactive application beginning March 17, 2020.

The directive under Administrative Order No. 26, which was strongly pushed by Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go, entitles authorized government personnel who occupy regular, contractual or casual positions in national government agencies, including state universities and colleges and government-owned and -controlled corporations, and local government units, as determined by their respective sanggunians, a hazard pay of not exceeding P500 a day per person. Personnel under a contract of service, job order or similar schemes are also qualified.

For personnel who are already entitled to Hazard Pay, Hazardous Duty Pay, Hazard Allowance or other similar benefits under existing laws, issuances, rules, and regulations, such as public health workers, public social workers, science and technology personnel, and military and uniformed personnel, they shall continue to be entitled to such benefits or the COVID-19 Hazard Pay, whichever is higher.

The Senate, the House of Representatives, the Judiciary, the Office of the Ombudsman, and other constitutional offices may wish to grant hazard pay to their personnel in accordance with this presidential issuance.

The President is making this presidential directive as his way of alleviating the present hazardous situation of these government workers who have placed their lives on the line in this battle against the coronavirus in the name of public service.

 

Salvador S. Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel & Presidential Spokesperson