279 0 0 5 min to read

The Department of Health (DOH) has released P15.7 billion in health-care benefits.

As of November 26, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that PHP15.7 billion in benefits for health care workers had been disbursed.

The statistics in the Statement of Allotment, Obligation, and Balances are the most recent, reconciled figures.

From Dec. 20, 2020, to June 30, 2021, 486,585 health care workers will get PHP7,915,760,434 in Special Risk Allowance (SRA); and PHP6,555,957,185 in SRA and active hazard duty pay (AHPD) were released last year for 315,652 and 390,662 health care workers, respectively.

In addition, 103,413 workers received PHP1,231,098,680 in food, accommodation, and transportation (MAT) benefits.

“The Department is committed to recognizing our health-care workers’ significant contributions in the fight against Covid-19, and we intend to provide them with the compensation and benefits they deserve, as indicated in Republic Act 11494, or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.” In a statement, DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, the head of Administration and Financial Management, said, “We are constantly coordinating with local government units to fast-track the disbursement of remaining SRA funds to eligible health care workers for the period Dec. 20, 2020 to June 30, 2020.”

The Department of Health further stated that when the previous batches have been fully disbursed, pending requests for extra SRA money for Batches 5 and 6 would be considered by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The advantages of MAT

The Department of Health emphasized that MAT benefits were provided under Bayanihan 2 for the convenience of health care employees and to safeguard their families from catching Covid-19 while traveling from their residences to health institutions.

“By offering MAT, we hoped to keep their families safe and avoid health care professionals from infecting their family members at home,” Vega explained.

Because these benefits were supposed to be supplied in-kind or as actual services, health facilities that we’re unable to do so chose to return unspent funds to the Department of Health before the year ended in order to avoid reversion of funds to the Treasury.

The monies were then used by the Department of Health to help with other pandemic-related needs.

Recognizing that a number of healthcare workers have been denied MAT benefits, the DOH is working with the DBM and the White House Office of the President to seek financing and proper authority to award them retrospectively.

Proposed advantages

The DOH went on to say that healthcare worker benefits have some limitations in terms of breadth and duration of coverage.

The AHDP can no longer be given after December 19, 2020, whilst the SRA can only be granted until June 30, 2021.

As emphasized by the Department of Justice, eligibility for SRA under Bayanihan 2 is confined to those directly catering or exposed to Covid-19 patients, hence it cannot be offered to all health care professionals.

Given these constraints, the Department of Health supports ongoing legislative measures to ensure that healthcare workers continue to receive benefits.

The Department is also working to improve and streamline its systems to ensure that benefits are given fairly and quickly.

QR Code

Save/Share this story with QR CODE


Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement of any specific technologies or methodologies and financial advice or endorsement of any specific products or services.

πŸ“© Need to get in touch?

Feel free to Email Us for comments, suggestions, reviews, or anything else.


We appreciate your reading. 😊Simple Ways To Say Thanks & Support Us:
1.) ❀️GIVE A TIP. Send a small donation thru Paypal😊❀️
Your DONATION will be used to fund and maintain NEXTGENDAY.com
Subscribers in the Philippines can make donations to mobile number 0917 906 3081, thru GCash.
3.) πŸ›’ BUY or SIGN UP to our AFFILIATE PARTNERS.
4.) πŸ‘ Give this news article a THUMBS UP, and Leave a Comment (at Least Five Words).


AFFILIATE PARTNERS
LiveGood
World Class Nutritional Supplements - Buy Highest Quality Products, Purest Most Healthy Ingredients, Direct to your Door! Up to 90% OFF.
Join LiveGood Today - A company created to satisfy the world's most demanding leaders and entrepreneurs, with the best compensation plan today.


0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x