The health workers echoed concerns raised by labor groups and grassroots communities, which were filed through a petition at the Supreme Court on August 13, regarding the constitutionality of these transfers.

 

at the Guazon Hall of the Philippine General Hospital in Manila on August 19, 2024, urging the Department of Finance to halt the second tranche on August 21 and further transfers of PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury.
The health workers echoed concerns raised by labor groups and grassroots communities, which were filed through a petition at the Supreme Court on August 13, regarding the constitutionality of these transfers.

Medical associations earlier called on President Marcos Jr. to stop the diversion of ₱89.9 billion in PhilHealth funds and to implement genuine systemic reforms to PhilHealth, ensuring the protection of members' benefits as mandated by the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto clarified during a forum that the funds being transferred to the National Treasury are not from members’ contributions but from the government’s subsidy to PhilHealth.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

WHITE COLLAR RALLY

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span data-teams="true" id="isPasted"><span dir="ltr"></span></span></div><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/8/doh-receives-sub-allotment-release-order-for-p27-4-billion-funding-for-hea-1731" id="isPasted">DOH receives sub-allotment release order for P27.4 billion funding for HEA</a> </div><p>“Those appeals reached around 4.7 billion. That is now our problem because we don’t have appropriations for that,” Bravo said. </p><p>The amount can possibly increase as more healthcare workers are expected to appeal. </p><p>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”. </p><p>“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. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/7/4/dbm-to-release-p27b-for-health-emergency-allowance-1236" id="isPasted">DBM to release P27B for health emergency allowance</a> </div><p>“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. </p><p>Go encouraged DOH to bring up the matter of appeals during its Senate budget deliberation. </p><p>“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. </p><p>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. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/17/part-of-philhealth-excess-funds-used-for-health-emergency-allowance-doh-1641" id="isPasted">Part of PhilHealth excess funds used for Health Emergency Allowance: DOH </a> </div><p>“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.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KgaJ_iqwkIw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>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.</p>

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.

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

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

News

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

Published Oct 02, 2024 11:14 PM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

DOH

HEA

DBM

Bong Go

healthcare workers

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.