Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23) — The Department of Health on Monday said it has enough funds to grant the special risk allowance of an additional 20,156 healthcare workers.
Over the weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the inclusion of more medical frontliners to those set to receive their risk allowance.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the over P311 million will be taken from its contingency fund. The total amount has yet to be finalized since DOH regional offices are still reviewing the eligibility of the public and private medical workers.
The official said it has coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management to ask for the Office of the President’s go signal to use its savings for this purpose.
“Nakapag-identify na saan kukunin ang pondo. Meron pong mga savings sa aming miscellaneous benefit funds,” Vergeire said in a media briefing. “Within 10 days po ang binigay sa atin ng Pangulo at ito ay ipapatupad natin sa lalong madaling panahon.”
[Translation: We have identified where to source the funds. We have savings in our miscellaneous benefit funds… The President gave us 10 days. We will implement it as soon as possible.]
Duterte on August 21 ordered the DBM to release additional funds for healthcare frontliners amid complaints from thousands of workers that they have yet to receive their special risk allowances.
Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega earlier explained that 306,314 health workers received their special risk allowance under Bayanihan 2 Law from Sept. 15 to Dec. 19, 2020, while around 359,501 got theirs from Dec. 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
Under the law, all public and private health workers who are directly caring for COVID-19 patients shall receive an SRA of up to P5,000 per month.
