DBM: P27-B remaining health emergency allowance released

The P27-billion remaining arrears of the government for the COVID-19 health emergency allowance (HEA) of healthcare workers have already been released, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Wednesday.

“The DOH requested an amount of more than P27 billion, so the DBM, under SARO (Special Allotment Order) No. BMB-B-24005240 dated July 5, 2024, as well as the corresponding cash requirement issued under NCA (Notice of Cash Allowance)-BMB-B-24-009106 to cover the payment for public health emergency benefits allowance of eligible health care workers and non-health workers was released,” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

The DBM said the P27.453-billion budget, released through the SARO and NCA, will cover payments for 4,283 COVID-19 Sickness and Death Compensation claims for eligible healthcare and non-healthcare personnel as well as 5,039,926 validated but unpaid health emergency allowance.

Pangandaman made the disclosure during the Senate Committee on Health and Demography’s hearing on July 30, 2024, the DBM said.

“Nailabas na po namin nung July 5 ‘yung SARO at yung NCA para po mai-distribute na po ‘yung balanse. Naka-address po ito sa Department of Health dahil sila po ang mag-i-implement po ng distribution,” said Pangandaman.

(We already released, last July 5, the SARO and NCA to distribute the balance. This was addressed to the Department of Health because they are the agency that will implement the distribution.)

The settlement of all unpaid arrears for the HEA has been ordered by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. 

This directive underscores the administration's dedication to the “Bagong Pilipinas” initiative, which aims to rectify issues within the healthcare sector, ensuring timely and adequate support for the nation's healthcare professionals, according to the DBM.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, early this month, first announced the “good news,” saying that there will no longer be an allocated budget for the HEA under the 2025 NEP as the unpaid allowance may already be released this year.

Back in May, Pangandaman said that the DBM targeted to settle all the remaining P27 billion arrears for the HEA by the end of 2025. —KBK, GMA Integrated News