MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday that all funds for the country’s pandemic response had been accounted for, and that it will follow the Commission on Audit’s (COA) recommendations regarding the release of healthcare workers’ Special Risk Allowance (SRA).
The COA has stated that the released report does not indicate any funds lost to corruption.
The DOH has 60 days to enact the recommendations and report on its progress with the PHP67.3 billion pandemic fund.
“Gaya ng sinabi ko noon, bukas na bukas po ang aming tanggapan upang makipagtulungan sa COA upang mapabuti pa ang aming mga proseso at mapagsilbihan ng mas mabuti ang ating mga kababayan (Like what I’ve said, our office is open for coordination with COA for the improvement of processes to better serve our fellowmen),” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
Duque has also directed that the SRA be distributed within 10 days.
“Dapat maibigay ang SRA ng mga healthcare workers natin na hindi pa nakakatanggap nito. Patuloy natin sisiguraduhin na makuha ng ating healthcare workers ang kanilang mga benepisyo na naayon sa ating batas (We will make sure that our healthcare workers get the benefits according to the law),” Duque said.
Since the audit report, the DOH Centers for Health Development has been working with local government units and public and private hospitals to submit the remaining list of healthcare workers who are eligible for SRA.
The DOH is also working with the Department of Budget and Management to disburse funding for health-care worker benefits and medical supply procurement.
