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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bong Go renews call for gov't to release healthcare workers' allowances

Bong Go renews call for gov't to release healthcare workers' allowances

Published Nov 19, 2023 01:02 am

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has renewed his call for the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Department of Health (DOH) to expedite the release of the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of the country’s healthcare workers.

Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, made the call during the plenary debates for the DOH’s proposed budget for 2024, last Wednesday, November 15.

“Nakikiusap po ako sa ating DOH at DBM, obligasyon po ito ng gobyerno. Pinapaalalahanan ko lang po kayo, kayo po ang implementing arm ng gobyerno, ang DOH at DBM na ibigay po what is due to our healthcare workers (I am renewing my appeal to the DOH and DBM, this is an obligation of the government. I just want to remind that as the implementing arm of the government, the DOH and DBM should give what is due to our healthcare workers),” he said.

“Maliit lang po ito na halaga kumpara po sa kanilang sakripisyo sa panahon ng pandemya. Hindi po natin mararating ito kung hindi po dahil sa kanila. Ang iba po ay nagbuwis ng buhay, ang iba po ay nagkasakit sa panahon ng pandemya (This is just a measly amount compared to their sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic. We cannot be where we are now if not for them. Others sacrificed their lives while the others fell sick during the pandemic),” he continued.

Go noted that the DBM has disbursed P23.6-billion from the current year's budget, comprising P19.6 billion from programmed appropriations and an additional P4-billion from released unprogrammed funds.

But the fund still falls below the required amount to fulfill all obligations due to qualified healthcare workers in accordance with the law.

The DOH said that the outstanding HEA payments amount to over P62-billion, including arrears accumulated from 2021 to 2023.

The DOH is seeking an extra P25.9-billion from the DBM to settle more outstanding HEA payments.

Go said the government should do its best to settle the P62-billion arrears and pay for the healthcare workers.

“Services rendered na po ito, ibig sabihin pinaghirapan na po ito at pinagpawisan (These are considered services rendered, which means they have exerted efforts for this),” the senator said.

Related Tags

Bong Go Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) DOH DBM Healthcare workers
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