Categories: PH News

DBM to release P27B unpaid health emergency allowance on Friday

Spread the love


The remaining P27-billion arrears of government for the COVID-19 health emergency allowance (HEA) of healthcare workers is set to be finally released on Friday, July 5, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced Thursday. 

Advertisements

The DBM said that the Department of Health (DOH) in May requested for the issuance of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) amounting to P27.453 billion. The same amount was proposed by the DOH to be included in their 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

This was to cover payment of 5,039,926 remaining validated unpaid HEA and 4,283 COVID-19 sickness and death compensation claims of eligible healthcare and non-healthcare workers who provided service at the height of the pandemic. 

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that they strived to settle the long overdue HEA claims upon the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

Advertisements
Advertisements

“This is a promise fulfilled. Kahit sa 2025 pa ito hinihiling ng DOH, sinikap po ng DBM na mas maaga itong tuparin, dahil deserve po ito ng ating mga manggagawa sa health sector,” Pangandaman said in a statement on Thursday. 

Advertisements

(Even though the DOH is asking for it in 2025, the DBM tried to fulfill it earlier because our workers in the health sector deserve it.) 

Advertisements

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Wednesday first announced the “good news,” saying that there will no longer be an allocated budget for the HEA under the 2025 NEP as the unpaid allowance may already be released this year.

Back in May, Pangandaman said that the DBM targeted to settle all the remaining P27 billion arrears for the HEA by the end of 2025.

To date, the DBM has released a total of P91.283 billion to the DOH for the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA), covering all benefits for healthcare workers from 2021 to 2023. 

Advertisements

Of this amount, P73.261 billion has been allocated specifically for HEA.

The PHEBA covers Special Risk Allowance (SRA), compensation for COVID-19 sickness and death, and additional benefits like meals, accommodation, and transportation allowances for healthcare workers. —KBK, GMA Integrated News



Source link

Advertisements
GISELLE OMBAY, GMA Integrated News

Recent Posts

Now we know we can compete

Coach Tim Cone and Gilas Pilipinas ends its Fiba OQT campaign with their heads held…

11 mins ago

Miss International 2023 Andrea Rubio All Set for Bb. Pilipinas

What jet lag? Reigning Miss International, Andrea Rubio landed in Manila on Wednesday evening, July…

17 mins ago

UNTV: Ito Ang Balita Weekend Edition | July 6, 2024

Re-training at pinansyal na pangangailangan ng mga guro, pinatututukan ni PBBM -DOTR, kinumpirma ang pagtataas…

38 mins ago

Improvements at the Manila International Airport expected by early 2025

Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista The number of travelers who go through the Manila International…

42 mins ago

‘MaXXXine’ Director Ti West Is Turning Hollywood Into a Horror Show

West made several, often for very little money, and usually — in part because he…

46 mins ago

SpaceX’s Starship to fly again ‘in 4 weeks,’ Elon Musk says

We won't have to wait much longer to see the most powerful rocket ever built…

53 mins ago

This website uses cookies.