#FrontlinersPH is currently a trending topic on Twitter Philippines as many Filipinos joined the two-minute show of appreciation by clapping for the health professionals who are the front liners during this time that COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the country.
In this way, the people behind this activity, believe that doctors, nurses, medical technicians, laboratory scientists, healthcare workers, and volunteers will know that they are greatly appreciated in this time of great need.
The activity encouraged every individual, whatever they are doing, to take a moment and participate by going to a balcony, window, or rooftop, and taking a video of themselves applauding as loud as they can; joining the rest of the nation in showing appreciation and gratitude for the health professionals.
Today at 5pm! Pls spread the word #FrontlinersPH pic.twitter.com/dg0UvdlHCx
— Pepe Diokno (@PepeDiokno) March 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/thevoiceteensph/status/1239194080401223680
HELP SPREAD THE WORD!!! LET'S SUPPORT OUR HEROES! #frontlinersPH #MMQuarantine pic.twitter.com/f3dOQGZvP9
— Lysa (@lesyeuxdenini00) March 16, 2020
Number 6 trending! Maraming salamat para sa ating mga #frontlinersPH pic.twitter.com/hm7TT2MvS5
— Tim Yap (@officialTIMYAP) March 16, 2020
This is a simple way to show appreciation for doctors, nurses, medical technicians, laboratory scientists, healthcare workers, and volunteers who put their own health on the line in order to help others.
Below are some of the netizens who joined the show of appreciation
https://twitter.com/mr_worrynot/status/1239484373075820545
From one Healthcare worker to another…
From one #FrontlinersPH to another…God Bless! Stay Healty! Stay Strong!#PrayForPhilippines #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/gnCUqVLLcC
— Maan Guevarra (@ma1208an) March 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/AcebuMay/status/1239484506316271618
WATCH: We join the nation in saying “thank you” to our health workers in our battle against #COVID19! #frontlinersPH pic.twitter.com/BU6sqQEAqZ
— Defend Jobs Philippines (@defendjobsPH) March 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/CreepTonite07/status/1239478066625130496
sorry i'm inside the office.
Sharing this video to show support to our frontliners during this trying time. #FRONTLINERSPH. I salute you all! Thank you and God bless. applause to all of you! pic.twitter.com/nvqn30r6IJ
— adriane (@introvert_me) March 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/durablejobelle/status/1239479630832087040
One of the netizens who joined the movement was Kapamilya star Karina Bautista. In her Instagram story, the young artist posted a video of herself clapping energetically to show her support for the front liners like health workers and professionals.
In her caption, she wrote: “In full energy thanking all the doctors, nurse, medical staff for your bravery. To all the #frontlinersph I give you my [clapping emoji].”
https://twitter.com/KathRinaOFC/status/1239481100507811841
Hazard Pay for the frontliners
Aside from the medical sector, government employees, military and police, security personnel, and service workers are also on the frontline to defend the lives of many in the country against the pandemic disease.
For this reason, Senator Risa Hontiveros appealed that those front-liners should be granted hazard pay aside from the additional masks and protective wears based on the Republic Act 7305 or the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers including the doctors, nurses, and other health workers in the public sector whose work exposes them to ” danger, contagion, radiation, volcanic activity/eruption occupational risks or perils to life” that mandates them to be given hazard allowance.
She said, “Let us thank and help them by making sure they receive the proper compensation due to their efforts.
“Our health professionals and other frontliners in the fight against COVID-19 do not only need additional face masks and protective wear, they also need additional take-home pay commensurate to their extreme stress and risks they need to bear and face,” Hontiveros said.
Aside from the health workers in the public sector, Hontiveros also appealed that health professionals in the private sector must also receive similar additional compensation immediately.
“I hope they can give our public health workers their hazard pay immediately. Likewise, I hope that health professionals working in the private sector will immediately receive similar additional compensation,” she said.
While there’s no law that requires the payment of hazard allowance in the private sector, Hontiveros appealed to employers to grant additional compensation to their workers which include security guards, hotel staff, restaurant waiters, bank tellers, shopping attendants, cashiers, and even media workers whose work greatly risk them from contracting COVID-19.
“Let us extend a helping hand to these workers who in turn, help preserve some sense of normalcy in our communities, even in these difficult times,” she stated.
Luzon under enhanced community quarantine- death toll raised to 12
As the number of fatalities due to COVID-19 pandemic rapidly increases, President Rodrigo Duterte put Luzon under enhanced community quarantine to contain the coronavirus disease that has already claimed 12 lives in the country, as of this writing.
In an ANC Interview, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said, “It means absolute lockdown or total lockdown. It means that all persons will be subjected to strict home quarantine, no movement and no transportation except only for frontline health workers, authorized government officials, medical or humanitarian [reasons] as well as transport of basic services and necessities.”
It was still not decided whether wet markets and grocery stores will remain open. However, Panelo said that there will be an ample supply of food so people should refrain from panic-buying as it only creates an artificial shortage.
Aside from Metro Manila, other areas across the country have already declared quarantine measures to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
