This fund will be used to pay the final balance of HEA claims.
Following the directive of President Bongbong Marcos, Sec. Amenah Pangandaman of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the release of a total of PHP6.767 billion.
This will cover the payment of Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA) of health and non-health care workers (HCWs and non-HCWs).
The agency noted that there is a total of 1,411,546 claims from 2021 to 2023 from local government units, private health facilities, state universities, and other institutions across various regions.
“Bilang pagsunod po sa direktiba ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, at dahil po batid natin ang kahalagahan ng serbisyo ng ating mga manggagawa sa health sector lalo na noong pandemya, inaprubahan po natin ang pagre-release ng SARO (Special Allotment Release Order) para sa Department of Health (DOH) sa halagang P6.7 billion para mabayaran ‘yung idineklarang pinal na balanse ng ating gobyerno para sa Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) ng mga healthcare and non-healthcare workers,” Sec. Amenah said.
She continued, “Kung matatandaan n’yo po, July last year, nag-release na po tayo ng higit P27 billion para ma-cover ang idineklara ng DOH na balanse sa HEA. Suma-total, last year, higit P121 billion na po ang ini-release ng DBM para mabayaran ‘yung PHEBA ng ating mga healthcare and non-healthcare workers.“
Pangandaman said that the PHP6.767 billion release is in line with the updated request of DOH during the Monthly Economic Managers’ Meeting in February.
The fund was charged against the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) under the Unprogrammed Appropriations of fiscal year 2025 General Appropriations Act.
The budget department has also noted in its statement that in 2024, a total of PHP121.325 billion was already released to cover the PHEBA and other allowances of eligible HCWs and non-HCWs.
This amount includes the health emergency allowance (PHP27.383 billion) and COVID-19 compensation package (PHP70.7 million) and were pursuant to the DOH report of validated claims as of April 26, 2024.