The Commission on Audit (COA) has affirmed its decision against the payment of P27.656 million in anniversary bonus, educational assistance, shuttle service allowance, labor relations gratuity, birthday gift, and grocery allowance of the officials and employees of the Regional Office V (Bicol Region) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in 2015.
Only allowed by COA of the P34.439 million disbursed by the regional office was the P6.782 million for the hazard pay of the official and employees.
It partially granted the petition for review filed by PhilHealth ROV which was represented by its Regional Vice President Henry V. Almanon. Modified by COA was its decision issued on Feb. 8, 2021.
The grant of the benefits, aside from the hazard pay, was irregular expenditures and not in consonance with Republic Acts No. 10149, the Government Owned and Controlled Corporations Governance Act of 2011, and RA 7305, the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers Act.
"Considering that PhilHealth officials and employees are public health workers pursuant to RA 11223, the Universal Health Care Act, and as declared by the Supreme Court, they are entitled to the payment of the disallowed hazard pay. Thus, this Commission finds it proper to partially lift the amount of P6,782,457.50, corresponding to the payment of hazard pay," COA said in its decision.