Photo credit: PCO

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah "Mina" F. Pangandaman announced the release of approximately P27 billion to settle unpaid arrears for the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of healthcare workers. The funds are scheduled to be disbursed by Friday, July 5, 2024.

Earlier this year, the Department of Health (Philippines) (DOH) formally requested a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) totaling P27.453 billion. This amount aims to cover outstanding payments for 5,039,926 validated unpaid HEA claims and 4,283 COVID-19 Sickness and Death Compensation claims for eligible healthcare and non-healthcare workers.

During a recent statement, Secretary Mina affirmed, "In fulfillment of President Bongbong Marcos's directive, we will release the additional P27 billion requested by DOH for the settlement of unpaid HEA claims of our healthcare workers by Friday, July 5, 2024. This is a promise fulfilled. Even though DOH requested this for 2025, DBM made efforts to expedite it because our health sector workers deserve this."

To date, DBM has already disbursed P91.283 billion to DOH under the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA), encompassing benefits for healthcare workers from 2021 to 2023. Of this amount, P73.261 billion has been specifically allocated for HEA.

PHEBA includes various benefits such as Special Risk Allowance (SRA), compensation for COVID-19 sickness and death, as well as additional allowances for meals, accommodation, and transportation for healthcare workers.