The Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City has about 600 personnel*
The P202.8 million Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) due the medical staff of nine Negros Occidental provincial government owned hospitals and a few employees of the Provincial Health Office who served during the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be released.
The P202,837,312 claim had been submitted to the Department of Health, Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, Negros Occidental Provincial Health Officer, confirmed on Thursday, Nov. 28.
Randy Peacita, president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees, said the health frontliners of all nine hospitals of the provincial government have not yet received their HEA for August to December 2021 and January to July 2023.
They have been waiting and are hoping it will be released soon, he said.
The nine medical facilities are the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City with about 600 personnel and the district hospitals in Cadiz City, Valladolid, La Carlota City, Isabela, Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, Sipalay City and Hinoba-an, Peacita said.
Peacita said the HEA of the health personnel in the Provincial Health Office as well as in private hospitals and LGU-operated hospitals in Negros Occidental has been released.
Pinongan said a few PHO personnel have also not received their HEA.
RA No. 11712 (An Act Granting Mandatory Continuing Benefits and Allowances to Public and Private Health Care Workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic and Other Future Public Health Emergencies) was passed into law on April 27, 2022.
The Department of Budget and Management said the amounts provided based on risk levels are P3,000 for employees in low risk areas, P6,000 for medium risk areas and P9,000 for high risk areas.
Peacita said those assigned to COVID-19 centers like the Cadiz District Hospital could each receive a HEA of P9,000 per month.*