DOH to source P311 M from contingency fund for benefits of additional 20K frontliners

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) will source P311 million from its contingency fund to cover the benefits of over 20,000 healthcare workers initially added to the existing list of qualified recipients amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have identified yung healthcare workers na around 20,156 private and public health workers na ia-additional dun sa existing list natin and ang worth nito is P311 million para bayaran po natin itong additional na list,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters in an online media briefing Monday.

(We have identified an additional 20,156 private and public health workers, and it will cost P311 million to cover their benefits.)

“So ito pong (this) P311 million, we can source this out from our contingency fund,” she added.

Vergeire, however, said this number is not yet final as they are still waiting for the submission of a final list from the DOH’s regional offices and health facilities.

“They were asked to submit the list as soon as possible and we gave them a deadline until Thursday of this week so that we can be able to finalize our computations,” she said.

Vergeire said the DOH has already coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which has now sought the approval of the Office of the President for the use of the said fund.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte gave the DOH and the DBM 10 days to use whatever money the government has and pay health workers who have yet to receive their benefits.

“There was this instruction already immediately after that order coming from the our President that the secretary already issued this order to all of our units concerned na i-ayos na nila, i-prepare nila yung mga listahan ng additional healthcare workers na ilalagay pa sa listahan para mabigyan,” Vergeire said.

(There was this instruction immediately after that order coming from our President that the secretary already issued this order to all of our units concerned to arrange this and prepare the list of additional healthcare workers.)

“So within 10 days po ang binigay sa amin ng ating pangulo at ito naman po ay ipapatupad natin sa lalong madaling panahon. Inaayos lang po, at inaantay lang din natin ang sagot ng presidente sa DBM so that we can use that funds to pay for this,” she added.

(So the President gave us 10 days and we will do this as soon as possible. We are just awaiting the answer from the President’s office to the DBM so that we can use that funds to pay for this.)

While the DOH said it has released some P9 billion for the special risk allowance (SRA) and hazard pay of health workers, many frontliners said they still have not received the benefits promised under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 which already lapse last June 30.

The Bayanihan 2 mandates a COVID-19 SRA, life insurance, accommodation, free meals and transportation for both public and private health-care workers.

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