DOH: P14-B benefits paid in tranches to healthcare workers

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MANILA – As of Sept. 3 this year, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that PHP14.3 billion worth of benefits for healthcare workers has been distributed in two tranches.

The first tranche, worth PHP6.4 billion, has been disbursed, reflecting active hazard duty pay for 384,159 healthcare workers and special risk allowance (SRA) for 306,314 healthcare workers from Sept.15 to Dec. 19, 2020.

During the same time period, 103,096 healthcare workers got meal, accommodation, and transportation (MAT) allowances worth PHP991 million.

The second tranche, worth PHP6.9 billion, has been disbursed for SRAs of 379,117 healthcare workers for the period December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021. In addition, 32,281 healthcare workers were provided with life insurance amounting PHP16 million.

The DOH also stated that checks amounting PHP570 million have been distributed to 24,034 healthcare workers as Covid-19 illness and death compensation.

The benefits are provided to healthcare workers from both public and private health facilities who serve Covid-19 patients.

According to the guidelines, the DOH, through its Centers for Health Development (CHD), entered into a memorandum of understanding with health institutions to legally pay healthcare workers’ benefits.

The health facilities are then responsible for distributing the benefits to their employees and providing a liquidation report.

As the country continues to battle with the Covid-19 pandemic, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III guaranteed that the agency will strive for additional funds for the same benefits for healthcare workers next year.

“Maliwanag sa amin ang sakripisyo ng mga (It is clear to us the sacrifices of our) medical frontliners,” Duque said in a news release on Sunday.

According to Duque, the DOH has 72 registered hospitals and over 10,000 medical front-liners nationwide.

“They, like many others, put their lives at-risk every day in order to serve patients from all over the country and from all walks of life. Kaya sinisiguro namin na maibigay ang benepisyo sa pinakamaagang panahon, at ipaglalaban talaga namin ang budget para sa patuloy na pagkakaroon nitong mga benepisyo sa susunod na taon (So we assured that the benefits will be given as soon as possible, and we will really fight for the budget of these benefits for next year),” he said.

House committees to hold hearings during break

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Spread the loveMANILA – The House of Representatives has authorized for its committees to conduct hearings during the five-week congressional break, extending until late April.

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