The release of 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 is in the hands of the Department of Budget and Finance.
The Negros Occidental provincial government and the Department of Health (DOH) regional office have completed the required documents for the release of the funds, which have been submitted to the DBM, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, DOH Undersecretary, said Wednesday, Dec. 4.
“The ball now is in the hands of the DBM,” she said.
She said the delay in the release of the HEA funds is not just in Negros Occidental, the problem is nationwide.
Maestral assured that the HEA will be paid as soon as the DBM releases the funds.
There is fake news circulating that if the HEA is not downloaded by the end of the year, it will no longer be released, she said.
“That is not true, the budget has already been approved and the paperwork is done, we are just waiting for the DBM downloading of the funds,” Maestral said.
Maestral said she has also sought the help of the province’s congressional representatives and PhilHealth officials for the DBM to hasten the release of the HEA funds for Negros Occidental.
The P202,837,312 claim had been submitted to the DOH, Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, Negros Occidental Provincial Health Officer, also confirmed.
They are just waiting for the DBM to download the funds, she said.
Randy Peacita, president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees, earlier said the health frontliners of all nine hospitals of the provincial government had not received their HEA for August to December 2021 and January to July 2023.
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.
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.
Maestral said those assigned to the Cadiz District Hospital that was a Covid designated facility will receive bigger amounts.*