The Department of Health (DOH) said it is set to discuss, together with other concerned agencies, the funding of the special risk allowance (SRA) of medical workers for this year.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that he is set to meet the officials of Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Finance (DOF) on Thursday, Jan. 13.
"We're looking at better revenue generation and more efficient collection and hopefully, what we have fought for on behalf of our healthcare workers is a P50 billion worth of allowances for this year. But since I have mentioned, that about P7.8 or P7.9 billion was in the programmed funds in the GAA (General Appropriations Act) for 2022--- that will only last no more than two months worth of allowances,” he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, Jan. 12.
Duque said that they will discuss “where we can possibly source the remaining balance of about P43 billion” in order to provide “one year worth of allowances on a monthly basis.”
“That's why tomorrow we are meeting with DOF and DBM to source the remaining balance of about P43 billion so that we can give the entire year for our healthcare workers. So we wait for the outcome of that meeting tomorrow," he said.