The Department of Health (DOH) urges the different health facilities to completely submit the necessary requirements needed for the distribution of benefits for their respective health workers.
In a statement on Tuesday, June 28, the state health agency said it once more urges all health facilities to submit all documentary requirements for the grant of healthcare worker benefits related to Covid-19.”
These documentary requirements are Covid-19 Risk Exposure Classification (CREC), attestations, and memorandum of agreement, the DOH said.
“Liquidation Reports covering any previously transferred funds from the DOH must also be submitted to the respective DOH Centers for Health Development (CHDs),” it added.
“Timely submission will facilitate the immediate distribution of the Special Risk Allowance (SRA); Meals, Accommodation, and Transportation (MAT) allowance; and One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA) funds to our healthcare workers and frontliners who deserve to be paid on time. DOH urges all to do their part towards this goal,” it said.
Based on their data, the DOH said the following amounts are still “unliquidated by private health facilities”---P68 million of SRA across 117 health facilities; P21 million of MAT across 39 health facilities; and P145 million of OCA across 56 health facilities.
“There are also 10 local government units that have yet to liquidate a combined amount of P101 million across all the three benefits, and three national government hospitals that have yet to liquidate P30 million of SRA,” it added.
Citing the Commission on Audit's (COA) Circular No. 2012-001, the DOH said "it is a fundamental principle that all claims against government funds shall be supported with complete documentation."
Recently, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) President, Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said that several of their members have yet to receive the OCA for their healthcare workers and support staff.
“The DOH is following established government accounting rules and regulations meant to ensure that the public funds for Covid benefits reach each and every healthcare worker they are meant for," said Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega.
“The DOH is more than willing to guide PHAPi on policies that aim to ensure appropriate use of government funds. We also invite PHAPi and other interested healthcare worker groups to please join our regular forums where we provide updates on the status of the benefits,” he added.