Good news to health workers!
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will release more than Php 27 billion to settle all unpaid claims for the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of healthcare workers.
DBM mentioned that the Department of Health (DOH) made an offficial request last May for the issuance of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) amounting to P27.453 billion.
DBM said that the amount will cover the payment of more than five million remaining validated unpaid HEA and 4,283 COVID-10 Sickness and Death Compensation claims of eligible healthcare and non-healthcare workers.
"Bilang pagtupad po sa direktiba ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, we will release the additional P27 billion requested by DOH for the settlement of unpaid HEA claims of our healthcare workers by Friday, July 5, 2024," DBM Sec. Amenah Pangandaman said,
"This is a promise fulfilled. Kahit sa 2025 pa ito hinihiling ng DOH, sinikap ng DBM na mas maaga itong tuparin, dahil deserve po ito ng ating mga manggagawa sa health sector," Pangandaman added.
DBM mentioned that the agency has released Php 91.283 billion for the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA), which covers all benefits for healthcare workers from 2021 to 2023.
Out of the said amount, Php 73.261 billion went specifically to the HEA.
DBM said that the PHEBA includes Special Risk Allowance (SRA), compensation for COVID-19 sickness and death, and additional benefits like meals, accommodation, and transportation allowances for healthcare workers.
