(FILE PHOTO) Health workers spray disinfectant as they make their way through a village on lockdown in Manila last March. FILE PHOTO/RICHARD REYES
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is seeking an additional P1.23 billion to fund the special risk allowance (SRA) of health workers serving at the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a taped meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte aired Thursday, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said they already sent the request to the Department of Budget and Management to benefit the fifth batch of health workers.
“Sa ngayon, meron tayong karagdagang request ng pondo sa DBM upang mabigyan ng SRA ang ikalimang batch ng group ng atin pong mga mapagsakripisyong health workers,” Duque said.
(As of now, we have an additional request of funds to the DBM to give SRA to the fifth batch of our health workers who are sacrificing during the pandemic.)
Duque said a total of P15.1 billion has already been disbursed for the benefits of health care workers.
“Kabilang po dito ang higit P13 billion na special risk allowance at active hazard duty pay. Halos P1 billion para sa meals, accommodation and transportation, and life insurance,” said Duque.
(This includes P13 billion for special risk allowance at active hazard duty. Almost P1 billion for meals, accommodation and transportation, and life insurance.)
“Nakapagbigay na rin tayo ng abot P500 million na sickness and death benefits para po sa ating mga healthcare workers na nagkaroon po ng COVID infection,” he went on.
(We also gave P500 million for the sickness and death benefits of our healthcare workers who had COVID infection.)
According to Duque’s presentation, P6.9 billion were disbursed for the first batch of health workers’ SRA and P256 million were given to the second batch.
For the third and fourth batches, P882 million of the P888 million budget have already been downloaded to health facilities and the remaining P6 million are still ongoing disbursement.
The DOH has been requesting additional funds from the DBM for the release of health workers’ SRAs as frontliners slam the delay in the provision of said benefits amid the continuing pandemic.