DOH: P308-M disbursed to health facilities for SRA of healthcare workers

(FIL) RITM health workers stage a protest rally at their hospital grounds to demand the non-release of their SRA (Special Risk Allowance) and other COVID-19 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 — The Department of Health (DOH) has so far disbursed P308 million out of the P311.8 million released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the special risk allowance (SRA) of healthcare workers.

DOH Director Larry Cruz disclosed this during the House briefing on the proposed budget of the DOH for 2022.

“Out of the 311M, P308,181,207 was disbursed to various health facilities which include private and LGUs. Out of the P308 million, which was transferred to LGU and private hospitals, P115 million was actually received by those facilities,” Cruz said.

Cruz added that out of the P115 million received by these facilities, a total of 1,264 out of the 20,208 targeted health workers have already received their SRA.

“That’s 20% of the total 20,000,” Cruz said.

In a statement, the DBM said funds for the SRA were sourced from the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund and unprogrammed appropriations under this year’s P4.5-trillion national budget.

These latest releases for the SRA will be paid to 20,208 public and private health workers who directly dealt with COVID-19 patients between December 20 last year and June 30 this year.

/MUF