A lady legislator from Ilocos Norte province calls for the provision of more benefits and incentives for medical frontliners who continue to lead the country’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rep. Ria Christina Fariñas, representing the First District, said additional benefits and incentives will help ease the financial challenges faced by medical workers, many of whom also contracted the virus.
Fariñas has authored or co-authored various laws and bills championing the cause of healthcare professionals, including Republic Act No. 11509 that established medical scholarship in the country, and House Bill No. 8259 which aims to grant income tax incentives to frontliners.
“We would like to acknowledge the sacrifice and invaluable services provided by medical frontliners to our nation as we continue to face the pandemic,” said Fariñas.
She said it is important to lift the morale of the medical professionals who have been in the frontline in the campaign to contain the health crisis for almost two years now.
The House of Representatives last year passed on third and final reading HB 8259 which seeks to grant medical frontliners a 25-percent tax discount on their salaries, compensation and gross receipts.
Qualified frontliners include administrative employees, support personnel and staff of medical institutions, regardless of their employment status.
“Our medical heroes need our support and appreciation especially during this period,” she said.
Fariñas, who served as a board member of Ilocos Norte province before joining Congress, has organized various medical, relief and educational missions in the province since she joined government service.
These included the provision of free medicines, launching of blood donation drives and granting medical bill assistance to underprivileged individuals.
