Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15) — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Sunday said it released ₱1.08 billion for medical frontliners who contracted COVID-19 in line of duty this year.
In a statement, the DBM said the budget, which covers public and private healthcare workers and non-HCWs in medical facilities, has already been transferred to the Department of Health (DOH).
Medical frontliners who experienced mild or moderate COVID-19 are entitled to receive a compensation of ₱15,000, while those who suffered severe infection will receive ₱100,000.
If the health worker or non-HCW succumbed to the virus, the family will be compensated for a million pesos.
“The identification of COVID-19 classification of eligible HCWs and non-HCWs shall be based on the criteria set by the health department under DBM-DOH Joint Circular No. 2022-0002,” the DBM said.
“The DBM will continue to ensure the timely and prudent approval of the budget releases to safeguard the welfare of the frontliners as the country bounces back from the impacts of the health crisis,” it added.
Earlier this year, the DBM said it released ₱7.92 billion to cover the payment of healthcare workers’ One COVID-19 Allowance. More than 500,000 eligible public and private employees involved in the pandemic healthcare response were expected to benefit from the allowance.
