DOH vows swift release of health workers’ benefits


Nurses in PPEs

The Department of Health (DOH) assured the country’s health workers that they will soon receive their Covid-19 benefits.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that they already submitted the necessary documents in order for the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release the funds needed for the benefits of health workers.

She reminded the health workers that there are “corresponding requirements based on auditing rules and regulations” that the DOH should first need to submit to the DBM.

“We were able to complete all these necessary requirements last Aug. 19 and we have submitted it officially to DBM,” said Vergeire during a press briefing on Friday, Sept. 2.

In a statement on Sept. 1, the DBM stated that “as long as DOH can address the deficiencies in the documentary requirements, DBM will immediately process the request to release funds, based on available budget.”

Vergeire said that they already coordinated with the DBM what are the other requirements that they need to submit.

“Kahapon nagpunta dun ang team natin headed by Assistant Secretary Mylene Beltran, they sat down with the Department of Budget and Management para mapag-usapan at maklaro kung ano pa ang mga kailangang gawin to immediately facilitate the release of these funds (Yesterday, our team headed by Assistant Secretary Mylene Beltran went there, they sat down with the Department of Budget and Management to discuss and clarify what needs to be done to immediately facilitate the release of these funds),” she said.

“So hopefully, in the coming days, we will have the release of funds pagkatapos ng pag-uusap na ito (after the said meeting) so we can already release the funds to our regional offices para sa ating mga (for our) healthcare workers,” she added.