Release of P 9-B funds for health workers pushed

FILE PHOTO: 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 in March. Coronavirus infections are also rising outside Metro Manila, the independent research group OCTA reported on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. INQUIRER/RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — A party list lawmaker wants a congressional probe into issues surrounding the release of the P9 billion special risk allowance (SRA) for healthcare workers in the public and private sector.

House Resolution No. 2102 urges the appropriate House committee to investigate the “institutional and administrative impediments preventing the timely release” of the SRA to health-care workers.

The measure was filed by Ang Probinsyano Rep. Alfred delos Santos on Monday.

He cited the “many complaints of not just delayed releases of the SRA and other benefits for health-care workers, but also discrepancies in the actual amounts released to different healthcare workers.”

“The House acknowledges the vital role being done by our health-care workers, and that fair compensation for their hard work should be given in a timely and transparent manner, devoid of administrative discretions,” Delos Santos said.

He warned that health-care workers’ complaints over the delayed release of their benefits might lead to mass resignations and understaffed hospitals.

“No amount of monetary compensation is ever enough to fully compensate for the risks associated with this pandemic and the sacrifices of our health workers must endure to carry out their responsibilities. It is only right that we give them proper benefits,” Delos Santos said.

Last June, the Department of Budget and Management released P9.02 billion in special allotment release order and notice of cash allocation to the Department of Health.

This is to cover the SRA from Dec. 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021, as provided for in Administrative Order No. 42 issued by President Duterte that month.

The SRA will not exceed P5,000 a month and will cover health-care workers in both public and private facilities. INQ