MANILA – The Department of Health announced on Thursday that about 99% of the PHP311 million special risk allowance (SRA) for 20,208 eligible healthcare workers (HCWs) has been downloaded to healthcare facilities for processing and distribution.
Health Undersecretary for Administration and Financial Management Leopoldo Vega said in a statement that this is a supplement to the PHP7 billion budget set aside by the national government for the SRA of 379,117 HCWs from December 2020 to June 30 of this year.
“Tandaan po lamang natin na ang SRA ay kailangan ring iproseso ng mga public at private health facilities upang makuha ng ating mga (Let’s be reminded that the SRA must be processed by the public and private health facilities) healthcare workers,” Vega said.
“Ang PHP311 milyon ay para sa first batch ng mga eligible healthcare workers na hindi pa nakatatanggap ng kanilang SRA, dagdag sa mga una na nating nabigyan (The PHP311 million is for the first batch of eligible healthcare workers who haven’t received their SRA, in addition to those who first received theirs),” he added.
The DOH has asked an increased funding from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the SRA of the next batch of healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated that the DOH has collaborated with the DBM on the release of a new guideline for the food, accommodation, and transportation allowance.
“Makakaasa po kayo na bibigyan prioridad ng DOH ang karapatan ng ating mga healthcare workers upang makuha nila benepisyo na dapat nilang makuha ng naaayon sa ating batas (You can be assured that the DOH prioritizes the rights of healthcare workers so they will receive their benefits according to law),” Duque said.
