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MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) will receive P11.5 billion for the One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA) or Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the release of its funds.
In a statement on Wednesday, the DBM said 1.6 million public and private healthcare and non-healthcare workers are expected to benefit from the allowances.
The special allotment release order, the agency said, covers the OCA/HEA claims of health care and non-healthcare workers from January to June 2022.
READ: P1-billion benefits for health workers out next week
“Our health care workers deserve all the support and assistance from their government. They’ve been risking their lives to save and protect our people amidst this still prevailing pandemic. This is the least we can do for them,” DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
The DBM said the latest release of funds will cover the unfunded portion of some 2.6 million claims approved by the DOH as of September 5 this year, which requires funding of P18.7 billion.
Of the P18.7 billion, P7.92 billion was released last February 14 to cover the payment of over 995,000 claims, the DBM said.
Based on the statement, the DBM on Monday also authorized the release of P1.04 billion for the special risk allowance of qualified public and private health workers. – Alyssa Joy M. Quevedo, INQUIRER.net trainee