DOH seeks additional P3.6B for health workers’ benefits

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is seeking an additional P3.6 billion fund for the healthcare workers’ special risk allowance (SRA) and hazard pay amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday.

Vergeire said the DOH is only awaiting response from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the release of the additional budget.

“’Yung kanilang SRA and hazard pay, humingi po tayo ng karagdagang pondo sa DBM para mabigyan ng karagdagang pondo ang mga healthcare workers from the LGU and private hospitals,” Vergeire said in a television interview with GMA News on Wednesday.

(We have requested additional funds from the DBM for the SRA and hazard pay that the healthcare workers are requesting so we can provide the benefits to those working local government units and private hospitals.)

Vergeire said the DOH requested the funds from the DBM last April.

“Hinihintay lang po natin ang tugon ng DBM para ‘yung karagdagang pondo ay maibigay na rin natin sa mga hindi umabot. Kasi may mga nagsubmit pa na mga eligible after the June 30 na binigay natin na pera. Mga P3.6 billion po ang hinihingi natin sa DBM to provide dito sa additional healthcare workers na naisumite sa listahan na ito,” she added.

(We are just waiting for the response of the DBM so we can give the funds to those who did not make the cut. There are others who have submitted applications after we gave the money on June 30. We are asking P3.6 billion from the DBM to provide for additional healthcare workers in the list.)

The DOH released to hospitals in June the P9 billion fund for the new tranche of SRA for health workers who are at the frontlines against COVID-19.

However, some health workers are still calling for the release of their SRA, allowances, and hazard pay after the Bayanihan 2 law expired on June 30.

But according to Sen. Sonny Angara, who sponsored both the Bayanihan 2 law and Republic Act 11519 which extended the availability of its funds until June, benefits for health care workers under Bayanihan 2 will continue to be provided even after the law expires because the state of national emergency remains in effect.

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