The Department of Health (DOH) said Monday, Aug. 23, that it will shell out P311 million from its contingency fund to provide special risk allowance (SRA) to an additional 20,000 healthcare workers.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the amount will cover an additional 20,156 public and private health workers.

“Ang worth nito is P311 million para bayaran natin itong additional na list (Its worth is P311 million for us to pay for this additional list). But that’s not final yet,” Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing.

The Health official explained that the DOH has to wait for the final list of recipients to determine the final number of beneficiaries and the exact amount needed.

“So itong (this) P311 million, we can source this out from our contingency fund,” she said, adding that the DOH has already coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which will seek the approval from the Office of the President for the release of such funds.

Vergeire said hospitals were given until Aug. 26 to submit a list of additional health workers to be given their benefits

It was earlier reported that some healthcare workers from private hospitals threatened to go on mass resignation due to lack of benefits.

President Duterte has ordered Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to prioritize the release of benefits due to the country’s health workers if there is enough funds.

“So within 10 days ang binigay sa amin ng ating pangulo (So the Presideny gave us 10 days), at ito naman ay ipapatupad natin sa lalong madaling panahon (and we will implement it as soon as possible),” Vergeire said.

Inaayos lang, at inaantay din lang natin ang sagot ng presidente sa DBM (It is just being processed, and we're also just waiting for the president's response to the DBM) so that we can use that funds to pay for this,” she added.