DOH allots P311 million for special risk allowance of 20,000 health workers

Facade of the DOH main office in Manila. INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has allotted P311 million for the special risk allowance of health workers from Dec. 1 to June 30, 2021, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said during the taped weekly briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte that aired late Tuesday.

Duque said the DOH had already submitted the necessary documents to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the release of the P311 million.

The DOH is currently waiting for the special allowance release order (SARO) from the DBM so that it could distribute the funds to hospitals, according to Duque.

“We’re hoping the DBM will release the SARO tomorrow. We have been following it up with them,” he said.

“We are committed to deliver on the same timeframe that you have indicated last Friday,” he added.

Duterte earlier gave the DOH and DBM 10 days to use whatever money the government had to pay health workers who had not received their benefits.

He also ordered the DBM to expedite the release of the funds.

The DOH and the DBM earlier blamed other factors for the delay of the release of the benefits of health workers.

The DBM earlier said it has released the P9.02-billion allotted for another tranche of SRA for healthcare workers.

The DOH, on the other hand, said it released the budget on the same day to its regional offices. But many healthcare workers said they had not received anything.

Duque earlier said it would look into its savings that it might align to fund the SRAs of health workers. It also sought an additional P3.6 billion to pay for the said benefits.

ATM