Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that private hospitals are responsible for the release of special risk allowance (SRA) and other benefits for health workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Health (DOH) chief was asked by Senator Richard Gordon Wednesday, August 18, to disclose which office in his agency caused the delay in the issuance of the SRAs.

"'Yong mga ospital, 'yong mga private entities na mga ito, sila ang actually may accountability dahil sila po ang nakakakilala doon sa kanilang mga health care workers (Hospitals, these private entities, actually have the accountability because they are ones who know their health care workers)," Duque said during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's inquiry on the issue.

"May proseso po sila diyan, meron silang human resource office, to properly identify who should be the legitimate recipents of these benefits (They have their processes, their human resource office, to properly identify who should be the legitimate recipients of these benefits)," he added.

Medical workers and hospital groups lamented during the hearing that have yet to receive their benefits, even as Duque maintained that the DOH already disbursed the funds to the hospitals.

Senators noted the contrasting statements from both parties.

"Ang hindi ko maintindihan (What I cannot understand is), you have a tidal wave of people from all across the country saying they were not able to receive," Gordon said.

"Even if you make a presentation, if they maintain na hindi sila nakakareceive, may problema tayo (that they are not receiving anything, then we have a problem)," he told Duque.

In the same hearing, the DOH also blamed the Department of Budget and Management for the delayed issuance of the SRAs.

The Bayanihan to Recover as One Act mandated the provision of SRA and hazard pay for medical frontliners, on top of their usual benefits under existing laws. They were also guaranteed meal, accommodation and transportation allowances, and insurance should they contract COVID-19 in line of duty.

In its presentation before the Senate panel, the DOH said it has obligated a total of P14.97 billion for the allowances and benefits for over 1.2 million health care workers.

Duque explained that they cannot provide for all health workers, especially those who did not directly treat COVID-19 patients. He also complained of the limited funds allocated for the benefits.

"My problem is the resources, once shared across many individuals, baka wala nang impact 'yong kanilang makukuha (the amounts they would receive might not have an impact anymore)," he said.

But senators argued that all health workers should be covered by the benefits, with Commission on Audit (COA) chairman Michael Aguinaldo also saying that the DOH can be liberal in paying the SRA and other benefits to health workers.

The COA will be open to such expansion if properly justified by the DOH, Aguinaldo said.

Meanwhile, Duque said private hospitals need not go through local government units (LGUs) to receive their allotments for the SRA and other benefits.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri had cited reports from private hospitals that the funds were downloaded to some LGUs, further delaying its release to health workers.

"They (benefits) have to go straight to the private hospitals," Duque clarified.