DBM releases P1-B grant for healthcare workers' COVID-19 compensation

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Sunday said it has released P1.081 billion for the grant of sickness and death benefits to public and private healthcare workers and non-HCWs who contracted COVID-19 or may do so in line of duty amid the pandemic this year.

In a statement, the DBM said those who contracted mild or moderate COVID-19 infection will receive a compensation of P15,000.

Meanwhile, those who got severe or critical COVID-19 will be compensated for P100,000, it added.

The families of HCWs and non-HCWs who died due to COVID-19 while in the line of duty will receive P1 million, the DBM said.

“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 department said.

“The funds were charged against the regular budget of the DOH under the FY 2022 General Appropriations Act. Thus, the compensation will be transferred by the Department of Health to DOH-retained and corporate hospitals, DOH Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers, and Centers for Health Development, among other attached agencies and institutions,” it added.

The department, however, assured that it will continue the timely approval of the budget for the frontliners as the country grapples with the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

The DBM earlier said it has released P7.92 billion for the allowance of healthcare workers and other personnel involved in the COVID-19 response.

In 2021, a number of healthcare workers in 2021 reported that they have yet to receive allowances for the services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in August 2021 said the department would look into savings that it could realign for risk allowances, given that billions of the DOH's budget for the same provision were unobligated.

State auditors earlier flagged “deficiencies” in the use of P67.32 billion worth of COVID-19 funds, including P11.89 billion which remained unobligated as of December 31, 2020, and reverted back to the Bureau of the Treasury.

Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a measure mandating continuous benefits to all healthcare workers in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic and other future public health emergencies.

Republic Act (RA) No. 11712 otherwise known as the “Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Healthcare Workers Act” covers both public and private healthcare and non-healthcare workers regardless of their employment status from the time of declaration of the public health emergency until lifted by the President.

Under Section 5, the national government is required to provide additional health emergency allowances (HEA) to the beneficiaries monthly —  with the amount depending on their risk exposure categorization.

Workers deployed in “low-risk areas” shall receive at least P3,000; those in "medium-risk areas” shall be given around P6,000 while individuals assigned in “high-risk areas” shall be granted at least P9,000. —KG, GMA News