MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Thursday that the special allocation of release order for the PHP311 million Special Risk Allowance (SRA) for healthcare workers has been transferred to its Centers for Health Development (CHDs).
An additional 20,208 healthcare workers will benefit from the fund.
According to a DOH press release, the funds transferred to the CHDs would be disbursed to their respective local government units (LGUs) and private health facilities in the coming days.
The release is the first batch of funds transfers for SRA grants to hospitals and health facilities that have previously submitted an extra list of eligible medical workers.
“Naibigay na po ng DBM ang paunang request na 311 million pesos para sa SRA ng 20,208 na healthcare workers. Huwag po kayong mag-alala at madadagdagan pa itong bilang ng mga healthcare workers na makakatanggap ng SRA sapagkat kasalukuyan tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang LGU at private hospitals sa pamamagitan ng ating mga CHD, upang makalap ang bilang ng health workers na marapat pang makatanggap ng SRA (The DBM has released the initial PHP311 million SRA for our health care workers. More health care workers are expected to receive their SRA as we continue to coordinate with the LGUs and private hospitals on the list of eligible health workers),” DOH Undersecretary of Health Leopoldo Vega said.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) stated that the SRA grant would be pro-rated based on the number of days that healthcare personnel physically report for work in a month.
“About 20,208 public and private health workers directly catering to Covid-19 patients shall receive an SRA not exceeding P5,000 per month from December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021,” the DBM statement read.
Meanwhile, the DOH has stated that it will continue to provide assistance to medical workers.
The department, through its CHDs, has collaborated with public and private hospitals to submit lists of qualified healthcare workers who are yet to obtain the SRA till today, allowing the agency to comply with requirements to facilitate DBM requests for additional funding.
“Nakikiusap po kami na ang mga ospital at health facilities ay makipagtulungan sa kani-kanilang mga CHD upang makapag-submit ng kanilang mga requirements. Ang ating Centers for Health Development naman ay handa pong gabayan kayo. Magtulungan po tayo dito (I urge the hospitals to coordinate with their CHDs and submit the requirements. They are ready to assist you. Let us help each other on this),” Vega said.
The DOH has directed CHDs to hold town hall meetings with hospital management and healthcare workers about SRA processing.
To ensure efficiency in providing benefits to front-liners, the DOH has acknowledged the need to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and streamline operations among its operating units.
