MANILA — A group of healthcare workers is hoping that the government will release their delayed COVID-19 benefits before Christmas.

According to Alliance of Health Workers president Robert Mendoza, many hospitals in the regions have yet to receive their benefits.

"Umaasa kami na mababayaran bago mag-Pasko 'yung ating mga healthcare workers," he told ANC's "Headstart" on Friday.

(We hope that our healthcare workers will be paid before Christmas.)

Mendoza said healthcare workers were still waiting for their allowance for July to December 2021 and July 2022 to present.

Under the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act, medical frontliners are entitled to the following:

• Those deployed in "low risk areas" shall be given at least P3,000;
• Those deployed in "medium risk areas" shall be given at least P6,000; and
• Those deployed in "high risk areas" shall be given at least P9,000.

• One COVID Allowance, inusisa sa pagdinig ng panukalang DOH budget

During Thursday's Senate plenary budget deliberations, the Department of Health said the Department of Budget and Management had already released nearly P30 billion for the allowance of healthcare workers.

Sen. Pia Cayetano, who sponsored the DOH's budget for next year, said the agency would need more funds as the number of beneficiaries had been expanded to 805,000 from 526,000.

"The January to June figures that have been made available by DBM is not P11 billion but P19 billion… Now, for July to December, what is needed is P35 billion," she said.

• DOH asks for P27 billion for health workers' COVID-19 allowance

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said they have requested an additional funding of P27 billion for the health emergency allowance (HEA) of medical frontliners.

This will cover the HEA claims of over 2.1 million eligible public and private healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers from July 2021 to December 2022.

In a separate statement, the DBM said it received on Nov. 8 the request of the DOH for the P27-billion funding for the health emergency allowance.

"As this program falls under Unprogrammed Appropriation, we will have to check first with the Bureau of Treasury if the government has available excess revenue to cover the request," the agency said.

The DBM also noted that as of Oct. 30, there is still an unobligated amount of P113.9 billion, including the P40.273-billion releases for COVID-19 vaccines, which is not expected to be pursued this year. It can be used for similar projects subject to a Bureau of Treasury certification, the DBM said.

To process the additional requested funds, the DBM urged the DOH to submit the following:

• Certification that claims of eligible public and private HCWs and non-HCWs for OCA/HEA have been verified and DOH assumes full responsibility for the veracity and accuracy of the listed claims and authenticity of the supporting documents
• Summary of total funding requirements by region
• List of eligible public and private HCWs and non-HCWs for OCA/HEA
• Revised Monthly Disbursement Program – BED No. 3 (Personnel Services, not subject to withholding tax)

"We are one with the DOH in seeking to properly compensate our hardworking healthcare workers and help them receive the benefits entitled to them," the DBM said.

The Senate on Thursday approved the proposed 2023 budget of the DOH, its attached agencies and specialty hospitals, which amounts to P323 billion.

"The DOH is grateful to Senator Pia Cayetano, health advocates, and all partners in Congress for working relentlessly to provide every Juan and Juana the healthcare service they deserve- all towards Universal Health Care," the DOH said in a statement late Thursday night.

• DOH, kumpiyansang sapat pa rin ang COVID-19 vaccine sa bansa sa 2023

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