Government To Provide Accommodation for Evicted Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the government will provide accommodation for health workers who were evicted from their homes due to discrimination amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

During his address to the nation on Monday, August 31, the President states, “They are summarily dismissed from their residence whether it is leased, rented… [That pains me].”

As of September 1, the Philippines have approximately 224,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, averaging at 3,000 new cases every day. Due to the rising number, some citizens began to discriminate and “chase out” health workers from their residences in fear that they might contract the virus. 

According to the President, the government should place a procedure supporting evicted health workers who are suffering from this discrimination. 

The President continued, “If this happens, you can call directly the office of [National Task Force Chief Implementer] Secretary [Carlito] Galvez and we will provide you with the necessary billeting [including your food].” The health workers will also be given lodging nearest to their current residence. 

The government will utilize the accommodation of hotels to provide for the workers with the assurance that they will be treated decently. Health workers who suffer from the same predicament are encouraged to state the name of their landlords. 

Duterte added that the government is doing its best to address the public’s needs during the pandemic. 

He expressed, “We are experiencing a lack of everything. We are trying to make up for the deficiencies and luckily the Philippines is able to meet at least half of what was the expectations of the people.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Duterte has been urging the public not to discriminate against health workers, as well as patients who contracted the virus.