SEN. Bong Go called on the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to facilitate the distribution of P27 billion in health emergency allowances for health care workers by October.
During a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health on July 30, Go underscored the importance of the allowance to health care professionals who were on the frontlines during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Go is one of the authors and co-sponsors of Republic Act (RA) 11712, which grants benefits and allowances to health care workers during public health emergencies like the pandemic.
Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit)
“Under the DoH’s plan, how would you release the P27 billion to the health care workers? And how can you guarantee that no one will be left behind and that all of our health workers will receive their HEA (health emergency allowance)?” he said.
He cited statements made by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto that the funds were already with the DoH and DBM.
Amid the discussions, the plight of the health care workers was brought to the fore by Ronald Ignacio, spokesman for the United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines.
Ignacio lamented the discrepancies and delays in the payment of the HEA.
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