We need collaboration to win the battle towards Corona Virus. Fighting this pandemic alone cannot assure victory. President Rodrigo Duterte will donate his one-month salary to support efforts to contain the pandemic. This is due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines. COVID-19 is a fast-spreading pandemic that has infected more than a million people around the world. Philippines has more than 3,000 cases.
“Others have volunteered a salary deduction for the whole duration of the state of public health emergency in solidarity with our countrymen and to help in government efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus,” Presidential Spokesman Panelo said in a statement issued yesterday.
“The President is likewise donating his one month salary for the cause,” he added.
Panelo noted that many Cabinet members promised to help. They pledged to donate 75 percent of their monthly salaries from April to December to boost the government’s fight against the disease.
From the latest government salary hike passed by Congress, Duterte receives close to 400, 000 pesos in a month.
Penelo added that other government officials with the rank of secretary will also give portions of their salary to strengthen the campaign against COVID-19. Assistant secretaries of the Offices of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson have also committed to donate at least 10 percent of their income directly to the Office of Civil Defense this month, he added.
Some lawmakers from the House of Representatives agreed to donate their full salaries for the month of May, in an effort to raise an initial ₱50 million for the government’s disease response.
In the darkest moment like this, we can still see the good effect of experiencing the said pandemic. Filipinos are fighting the battle together. Cooperation and being disciplined can be noticed around. When the enhance community quarantine was declared, streets are empty. That’s what collaboration can do.
Sources:
philstar.com/headlines/2020/04/06/2005781/duterte-donate-months-salary-efforts-vs-covid
cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/5/Duterte-donates-one-month-salary-COVID-19-response.html