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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider After hearing status of HEA, Legarda cautions lawmakers against approving bills with no funding source

After hearing status of HEA, Legarda cautions lawmakers against approving bills with no funding source

Published Sep 28, 2023 11:39 am

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda on Thursday, September 28 urged lawmakers to refrain from approving a measure if there is no specific source of funds.

Loren Legarda.jpg

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda (Senate PRIB Photo)

Legarda made the call after learning from Department of Health (DOH) officials that P66.2-billion is needed in order to fully recompense the health emergency allowances (HEA) of healthcare workers who served especially during the global Covid-19 pandemic.

During the Senate budget hearing on the proposed P311.3-billion budget of the DOH and its attached agencies for 2024, Health Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taiño disclosed that the total HEA requirement from 2021 to 2023 amounted to P113-billion.

And out of this, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released in 2022, P46.8-billion or 41 percent of the requirement.

“So we have arrears of P66.2-billion, but out of this P46.8 billion we are able to release P46.7-billion or 99 percent. This were obligated, downloaded to the different CHDs as well as different health facilities. And out of these, P42.7-billion or 91.42 percent were already disbursed,” Taiño said.

“We were able to pay 6.5 million healthcare workers,” she said.

The DOH earlier said it is targeting to complete this year the distribution of the pending HEAs but some hospital groups have already filed a complaint before the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) against some DOH officials for their failure to respond to inquiries about its long-overdue release.

Responding to Taiño’s explanation, Legarda urged Congress against making promises through the passage of laws especially if there is no specific funds available for its implementation.

Benefits for frontline healthcare workers who rendered services during the pandemic is provided under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or, Bayanihan 2.

“It took us two years before we can pay. We understand the limitations then, because we were on lockdown. But for 2023, why do we need to wait for our healthcare workers who are already having a hard time, to file a complaint before DOH’s regional offices before we pay them? Every peso counts,” Legarda noted.

“We promised the HEA and then what did we tell them? Just work and we’ll pay you extra allowance. Each month right? But the monthly allowance we promised eventually became two years…I think it’s bad attitude to make promises and renege on that,” the senator appealed.

“It’s addressed to us lawmakers. Do not promise a law if there is no source of funds…Let us not give the people bubbles or fake hopes, that you cannot fulfill. Because people are hopeful,” she further said.

Related Tags

Bayanihan 2 Loren Legarda Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) 2024 national budget DOH
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