P9 billion released for health workers’ special risk allowance – DBM

DISINFECTING A VILLAGE Health workers spray disinfectant as they make their way through Barangay 628 Zone 63 in Santa Mesa district, Manila, which has been placed on lockdown for four days because of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the village. Coronavirus infections are also rising outside Metro Manila, the independent research group OCTA reported on Wednesday. —RICHARD A. REYES (file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The much-awaited new tranche of special risk allowance for health workers fighting in the front lines against COVID-19 will finally be distributed this Wednesday, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

In a statement sent to the media on Saturday night, the DBM said it released to the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday P9.02 billion in special allotment release order and notice of cash allocation to cover the pending special risk allowances.

The allowances, not exceeding P5,000 a month, will cover health workers in public and private facilities.

The DBM said the allotment released to the DOH will cover the period from Dec. 20, 2020, to June 30, as mandated under Administrative Order No. 42 issued by President Duterte early in June.

Both public and private

Last year, Mr. Duterte issued Administrative Order No. 36, which covered the special risk allowances of health workers for the period Sept. 15 to Dec. 19, 2020.

In the case of AO 42, the DBM said “qualified public and private health workers can expect the payment of the special risk allowance not later than June 30, 2021.”

On June 16, the DBM and the DOH issued Joint Circular No. 1-2021 serving as the implementing guidelines of AO 42.

The joint circular stated that the allowance will be available to “public and private health workers who directly cater to or [are] in contact with COVID-19 patients.”

“The grant of the COVID-19 special risk allowance shall be prorated based on the number of days that the public and private health workers physically report for work in a month, as certified by the head of the hospital, laboratory, or medical and quarantine facility, or his/her authorized representative, reckoned from Sept. 15, 2020 until June 30, 2021,” the circular read.

“All claims for the payment of the special risk allowance to public and private health workers shall be validated by the DOH,” it added.