P14.3-billion benefits for health workers disbursed — DOH

(FILE) RITM health workers stage a protest rally at their hospital grounds to demand the non-release of their SRA (Special Risk Allowance) and other Covid19 benefits on Tuesday, with many hospitals in the country staging walkouts during their lunch breaks to call on the government’s attention over the mismanagement of the Health Department. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — P14.3 billion worth of benefits for public and private health workers were distributed as of September 3, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Sunday.

“Maliwanag sa amin ang sakripisyo ng mga medical frontliners (Medical frontliners’ sacrifices are clear to us). Within the DOH family includes 72 hospitals with more than ten thousand medical frontliners,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a statement.

“Kaya sinisiguro namin na maibigay ang benepisyo sa pinakamaagang panahon, at ipaglalaban talaga namin ang budget para sa patuloy na pagkakaroon nitong mga benepisyo sa susunod na taon,” Duque added.

(That’s why we ensure to give the benefits at the earliest time, and we fight for our budget for the continuous provision of these benefits in the following year.)

The DOH said that the benefits cover September 15 to December 19, 2020, or Period 1 and December 20, 2020, to June 30, 2021, or Period 2.

P6.4 billion was distributed in Period 1. The benefits include active hazard duty pay for 384,159 health workers and a special risk allowance (SRA) for 306,314 health workers. Meanwhile, P990.9 million worth of meals, accommodation and transportation (MAT) allowances were provided to 103,096 health workers.

For Period 2, 379,117 health workers received a total of P6.9 billion worth of SRA. A total of 32,281 medical personnel were covered with life insurance amounting to P16 million.

Moreover, P570 million worth of checks were issued to 24,034 medical frontliners as COVID-19 sickness and death compensation, the DOH noted.

According to the DOH, those who received the benefits are the ones qualified based on existing laws. They will continue to process the SRA and submit it to the Department of Budget and Management to request more funding.

Health facilities are responsible for giving the benefits to their employees, based on a memorandum between the DOH’s Centers for Health Development and health facilities.

Health facilities shall then submit a liquidation report.

Health workers have earlier protested the government’s delay in providing their benefits such as the SRA and the MAT allowances.

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