Health workers stage a noise barrage protest in front of their hospital in Manila. FILE PHOTO

Members of the Alliance of Health Workers on Monday will begin staging mass walkouts nationwide after the government failed to release their benefits being the frontline battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical frontliners of the Chinese General Hospital in Manila will stage a walkout Monday, followed by Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine on Tuesday, said Alliance of Health Workers Robert Mendoza president said.

Walkouts will be between 9 a.m. to 12 noon, while other protests such as noise barrage and red armband-wearing will also be conducted by health workers in other parts of the country, he added.

Despite the staging of walkout and other protest actions, Mendoza assured that measures are put in place to ensure that patients will not be neglected.

“Matagal na ring nauunawaan ng ating mga pasyente ang ating laban para sa health and safety ng mga health workers. Hindi lang po ito para sa pansarili naming kapakanan, kasama din sila, para mabigyan din sila ng quality care,” He added.

Health workers were dismayed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque’s remarks during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last week, Mendoza said.

Duque had said it would take 2 months’ time to give them their due benefits, according to Mendoza.

“Kung hindi talaga maibigay ang mga benepisyong ito, meron pa kaming mga plano na dapat tuloy-tuloy po itong pagkilos na ito hanggang sa maibigay po,” he said.

“Hindi lang naman ito panawagan para sa benepisyo ng health workers, ito ay panawagan din na itaas ang budget pangkalusugan.”