Health workers hope unpaid COVID-19 benefits out before Christmas

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Health workers from various hospitals demand a higher public health budget during a protest at the Senate in Pasay City on Nov. 17, 2022. The group urged senators to to increase the budget for public hospitals and fund their COVID-19 benefits for the year 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/11/18/20221117-health-workers-protest-senate-jc-0933.jpg"/><figcaption>Health workers from various hospitals demand a higher public health budget during a protest at the Senate in Pasay City on Nov. 17, 2022. The group urged senators to to increase the budget for public hospitals and fund their COVID-19 benefits for the year 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — A group of healthcare workers is hoping that the government will release their delayed COVID-19 benefits before Christmas.</p><p>According to Alliance of Health Workers president Robert Mendoza, many hospitals in the regions have yet to receive their benefits.</p><p>&quot;Umaasa kami na mababayaran bago mag-Pasko &#x27;yung ating mga healthcare workers,&quot; he told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Headstart&quot; on Friday.</p><p>(We hope that our healthcare workers will be paid before Christmas.)</p><p>Mendoza said healthcare workers were still waiting for their allowance for July to December 2021 and July 2022 to present.</p><p>Under the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act, medical frontliners are entitled to the following:</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li>Those deployed in &quot;low risk areas&quot; shall be given at least P3,000;</li>	<li>Those deployed in &quot;medium risk areas&quot; shall be given at least P6,000; and</li>	<li>Those deployed in &quot;high risk areas&quot; shall be given at least P9,000.</li></ul><div> </div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/17/22/one-covid-allowance-inusisa-sa-pagdinig-ng-doh-budget">One COVID Allowance, inusisa sa pagdinig ng panukalang DOH budget</a></li></ul><p>During Thursday&#x27;s Senate plenary budget deliberations, the Department of Health said the Department of Budget and Management had already released nearly P30 billion for the allowance of healthcare workers.</p><p>Sen. Pia Cayetano, who sponsored the DOH&#x27;s budget for next year, said the agency would need more funds as the number of beneficiaries had been expanded to 805,000 from 526,000.</p><p>&quot;The January to June figures that have been made available by DBM is not P11 billion but P19 billion… Now, for July to December, what is needed is P35 billion,&quot; she said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/15/22/doh-seeks-p27-b-for-health-workers-covid-allowance">DOH asks for P27 billion for health workers&#x27; COVID-19 allowance</a></li></ul><p>DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said they have requested an additional funding of P27 billion for the health emergency allowance (HEA) of medical frontliners.</p><p>This will cover the HEA claims of over 2.1 million eligible public and private healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers from July 2021 to December 2022.</p><p>In a separate statement, the DBM said it received on Nov. 8 the request of the DOH for the P27-billion funding for the health emergency allowance. </p><p>&quot;As this program falls under Unprogrammed Appropriation, we will have to check first with the Bureau of Treasury if the government has available excess revenue to cover the request,&quot; the agency said.</p><p>The DBM also noted that as of Oct. 30, there is still an unobligated amount of P113.9 billion, including the P40.273-billion releases for COVID-19 vaccines, which is not expected to be pursued this year. It can be used for similar projects subject to a Bureau of Treasury certification, the DBM said.</p><p>To process the additional requested funds, the DBM urged the DOH to submit the following: </p><ul>	<li> Certification that claims of eligible public and private HCWs and non-HCWs for OCA/HEA have been verified and DOH assumes full responsibility for the veracity and accuracy of the listed claims and authenticity of the supporting documents</li>	<li> Summary of total funding requirements by region</li>	<li> List of eligible public and private HCWs and non-HCWs for OCA/HEA</li>	<li> Revised Monthly Disbursement Program – BED No. 3 (Personnel Services, not subject to withholding tax)</li></ul><p>&quot;We are one with the DOH in seeking to properly compensate our hardworking healthcare workers and help them receive the benefits entitled to them,&quot; the DBM said. </p><p>The Senate on Thursday approved the proposed 2023 budget of the DOH, its attached agencies and specialty hospitals, which amounts to P323 billion.</p><p>&quot;The DOH is grateful to Senator Pia Cayetano, health advocates, and all partners in Congress for working relentlessly to provide every Juan and Juana the healthcare service they deserve- all towards Universal Health Care,&quot; the DOH said in a statement late Thursday night.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/17/22/doh-kampante-sa-suplay-ng-covid-vaccine-sa-bansa-sa-2023">DOH, kumpiyansang sapat pa rin ang COVID-19 vaccine sa bansa sa 2023</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2345669" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

A group of healthcare workers is hoping that the government will release their delayed COVID-19 benefits before Christmas.