Defensor hopeful with new IHWA officers
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said is hoping the hanging issue on the hazard pay and other benefits of the Iloilo Health Workers Association (IHWA) would finally be resolved with the election of IHWA’s latest officers.
The IHWA held an election during their general assembly last Friday attended by 528 members or about two-thirds of the association’s membership.
Defensor, who yesterday met with the new officers led by their president Dr. Alberto Cordero, said he is hoping that they will accept the compromise agreement he is offering to finally put an end to the issue and avoid the hassles of court litigation.
He vowed to order the release of the health workers’ hazard pay and subsistence allowance before Christmas if the new officers will accept the compromise agreement, adding that with the agreement the health workers will receive their hazard pay every year thereafter.
Defensor had earlier offered a compromise agreement wherein the hazard pay and subsistence and laundry allowances of health workers will be released retroactive to January this year provided the IHWA will withdraw the case they filed before the Regional Trial Court.
Past IHWA officers filed a civil suit against the provincial government to claim their hazard pay and other benefits from 2004-2009, totaling P490 million.
The Court ruled that IHWA is entitled to receive their hazard pay and other benefits but it did not stipulate how much the provincial government should pay the health workers.*
