More funds for healthcare workers’ allowance ‘very possible’ to be approved | ABS-CBN

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More funds for healthcare workers’ allowance ‘very possible’ to be approved

More funds for healthcare workers’ allowance ‘very possible’ to be approved

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA -- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is willing to give more funding for the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of healthcare workers who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic so long as the need is validated and there is excess revenue. 

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Department of Health (DOH) Usec. Achilles Bravo said they have been receiving appeals from healthcare workers for them to be included as HEA beneficiaries even if the May 2024 cut off has already lapsed. 

“Those appeals reached around 4.7 billion. That is now our problem because we don’t have appropriations for that,” Bravo said. 

The amount can possibly increase as more healthcare workers are expected to appeal. 

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Committee Chairman Senator Bong Go asked DBM if it can fund the additional budget to which DBM Asec. Mary Anne Dela Vega said it is “very possible”. 

“For as long as meron pa po ‘yung excess revenue depending on the parameters din po na mine-maintain din ng DBCC,” Dela Vega said. 

“Once na these 4.7 (billion) appeals are validated and requested by the DOH na maihabol this year, then ang mandato ng DBM ay hahanapan niya para po siya ay ma-coveran ng release at mabayaran na po sila agad-agad,” she added. 

Go encouraged DOH to bring up the matter of appeals during its Senate budget deliberation. 

“It would be very unfair on the part of the, dito sa mga list ng appeals eh kung pareho naman pong nagserbisyo rin sila. Services rendered na po ito,” Go said. 

Bravo, meanwhile, said 91% of the total P103 billion HEA fund has been disbursed. The last tranche of P27 billion has already been released to DOH regional offices. 

“The giving of cash to the public at saka private hospitals are ongoing. There are minor delays because some private and public entities still need to comply with disbursement of our initial releases to them,” Bravo said.

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