MANILA -- Health Secretary Ted Herbosa is hopeful that healthcare workers will be able to receive their Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) "within a month or so".

This comes after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced that it will release the P27 billion worth of HEA on Friday, July 5, in a bid to "settle all unpaid arrears" to healthcare workers.

The DBM said this covers "5,039,926 remaining validated unpaid HEA and 4,283 COVID-10 Sickness and Death Compensation claims of eligible healthcare and non-healthcare workers".

Herbosa told reporters Friday they are awaiting for the download of funds from the DBM to the Department of Health (DOH).

"When it's released today, it will still be downloaded to the Department of Health. And then from the Department of Health, it will be downloaded again to the regional offices. And the regional offices, alam nila kung sino iyong mga nagca-claim from the private hospitals and the local hospitals... This is the last tranche, so this is very good news for our healthcare workers na hinihintay ito," he said.

(When it's released today, it will still be downloaded to the Department of Health. And then from the Department of Health, it will be downloaded again to the regional offices. And the regional offices, they know who are the claimants from the private hospitals and the local hospitals... This is the last tranche, so this is very good news for our healthcare workers who have been waiting for this.)

Local government units and private hospitals will distribute the financial aid to healthcare worker claimants.

"Kasi each hospital, consolidated iyong mga claims ng kanilang workers. Merong tinatawag na low risk, medium risk, high risk. At iyong amount na nakukuha nila is dependent kung saan sila nagtatrabaho doon sa hospital - kung doon sa COVID ward or sa entrance lang sila or sa office. So based on that cino-compute iyong amount," Herbosa said.

(Because each hospital consolidates the claims of their workers. There are categories called low risk, medium risk, and high risk. The amount they receive depends on where they work in the hospital - whether in the COVID ward, at the entrance, or in the office. Based on that, the amount is computed.)

"Pag na-process iyon - I think they already know the amounts - easily madi-distribute iyan in the regions. You've got another week. And, hopefully, within a month or so nasa pockets na iyan ng ating health care workers," he added.

(Once processed, and since they already know the amounts, it can be easily distributed to the regions. You've got another week. And hopefully, within a month or so, these will be in the pockets of our healthcare workers.)

The HEA is provided for under Republic Act 11712 or the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act, which entitles healthcare workers to receive HEA for every month of service during public health emergencies, like the COVID pandemic.

Under the law, those deployed in "low-risk areas" shall be given at least P3,000, at least P6,000 for those in "medium-risk areas", and at least P9,000 for those in "high-risk areas".

'THANKFUL BUT...'

Some healthcare worker groups are thankful for the additional benefits from the COVID pandemic period, but questioned the timing of the release of the fund.

"Dumating din po pala sa punto na itong ginawa nilang batas na ito, na sana makaalwan sa amin, ay isa din po palang pahirap para sa amin. Dahil bakit kailangan pa naming mangalsada? At bakit kailangan pa naming isigaw sa kalsada? Dadaan pa kami sa mga mobilisasyon, rally para lang po madinig nila na iyong ginawa nilang batas... ay pinahirapan pa kami," Cristy Donguines, president of the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center Employees Union - AHW (Alliance of Health Workers) told Teleradyo Serbisyo.

(It has come to the point where the law they made, which was supposed to help us, has actually become a burden for us. Why do we still need to protest? Why do we have to shout in the streets? We have to go through mobilizations, rallies just to make them hear that the law they created has made things more difficult for us.)

Donguines is calling on the government to act fast in distributing benefits, as some claimants could no longer wait due to circumstances.

"Talagang hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat na kawawa ang kalagayan ng mga nasa pribadong hospital at mga LGUs natin na mga nasa probinsya na magpasahanggang ngayon ay isang buwan pa lang ang natatanggap," she said.

(It is well known to everyone that the situation of those in private hospitals and LGUs in the provinces is unfortunate, as up to now, they have only received one month's worth of benefits.)

"May namatay, nag-retire, nag-resign na, nangibang bansa. Lalo na iyong worse, iyong namatay na na hindi nila nalasap itong pinaghirapan nila noong panahon ng pandemya," she added.

(Some have died, retired, resigned, or gone abroad. Especially the worst case, those who died and did not get to experience the benefits they worked hard for during the pandemic.)

Eleazar Sobinsky, president of the Lung Center of the Philippines Employees Association - AHW (Alliance of Health Workers), believes this a government "tactic" to "look good" ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) this month.

"Itinaon sa panahon na magso-SONA iyong presidente, saka nila inilalabas iyan para magpapa-pogi na naman," he said in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo.

(They timed the release of the funds to coincide with the president's SONA to make them look good for the SONA.)

"Kung kaya naman pala nilang gawan ngayon ng paraan iyan e bakit hindi pa noon nila ibinigay? Kasi po iyong worth po kasi ng pera noong mga panahon na kailangan iyan, dapat noon po ni-release iyan para naramdaman ng mga health workers... Sa mahal ng mga bilihin ngayon, parang hindi na ganoon ka-worth it," he added.

(If they can find a way to do it now, why didn't they release it earlier? The money's value was more significant when it was needed. It should have been released back then so that healthcare workers could have benefited from it. With the high prices of commodities now, it doesn't seem as worth it anymore.)

Herbosa explained the government simply needed funds.

"Because before there was no money; because this is supposed to be from unprogrammed funds. So every year nagbu-budget tayo anywhere from P20 to 25 billion pesos, and nabibigay naman iyong iba. So finally nakakuha yata ng funds ang Department of Budget and Management, and inaprubahan ito ng ating Presidente," he said.

(Because before there was no money; this is supposed to be from unprogrammed funds. Every year we budget anywhere from P20 to 25 billion pesos, and some of it does get allocated. So finally, the Department of Budget and Management seems to have secured the funds, and our President approved it.)

The official also vowed to fulfill benefits of healthcare workers.

"Iyong regular benefits natin sa Magna Carta will be given. Meron pa kaming isang ire-release, iyong tinatawag na additional funds for health maintenance organization (HMO)... May subsidy ang gobyerno, about P5,000 per worker para pwede siyang mag-enroll ng HMO - private HMO - additional to the PhilHealth... Last month, na-release na iyong circular niyan - joint circular - i-implement na lang iyan," Herbosa shared.

(Our regular benefits under the Magna Carta will be given. We also have another release, called additional funds for the health maintenance organization (HMO). The government will provide a subsidy of about P5,000 per worker, allowing them to enroll in a private HMO, in addition to PhilHealth. Last month, the joint circular for this was released, and it just needs to be implemented.)