Nearly two-thirds of the P27.3 billion in remaining arrears for healthcare workers’ COVID-19 health emergency allowance (HEA) had been paid out, according to government figures released on Saturday.
The Department of Health said as of September 20, 64% of the P27.3 billion had already been disbursed.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman received a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July to complete the payment this year rather than wait for the national budget for 2025.
”The surplus fund balance or excess payments that PhilHealth returned to the national government provided the cash needed,” the DOH said.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) then immediately released a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to enable the DOH to fulfill the obligation.
”Health facilities have been key players in the final payment of HEA to health workers themselves. DOH has listed 2,853 such facilities; checks have been issued to 2,070 (73%) of them,” the DOH said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
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