NI NOEL ABUEL
Inihain sa Kamara ang panukalang batas na layong bigyan ng libreng COVID-19 testing para sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho at maliliit na manggagawa sa micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at sa informal economy.
Sa House Bill No. 1980, o ang “Free COVID-19 Testing to Promote Labor” na iniakda ni Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas, layon nito na gawing prayoridad ang mga empleyadong hindi kabilang sa libreng testing packages sa ilalim ng PhilHealth, gayundin ang mga maliliit na negosyo at job-makers na hindi na makayanan ang regular na gastos ng mga manggagawa nito sa COVID-19 tests.
“We hope to ensure that vulnerable Filipino workers who wish to provide for their family amidst the pandemic will be supported by government in accessing basic health services such as COVID-19 testing,” sabi n i Vargas.
Nakasaad din sa HB 1980 na inaatsan ang Department of Health (DOH) at ang iba pang kinauukulang national government agencies, na pagkalooban ng “free and accessible” COVID-19 testing ng mga mahihirap na manggagawa, ang mga first-time jobseekers; unemployed persons; MSME workers; independent, self-employed, small-scale workers; at displaced workers na nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa pandemya.
“In these trying times, providing free COVID-19 testing is the least we could and must do to support our workers – the heart and soul that keep the country’s economy running,” paliwanag pa ni Vargas.
OnlineBalita news 