The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released over P91.28 billion for public health emergency benefits and allowances (PHEBA) for healthcare workers.
According to the DBM, these funds have been disbursed to the Department of Health (DOH) for the years 2021 (P12.1 billion), 2022 (P28 billion), 2023 (P31.1 billion), and 2024 (P19.962 billion).
Out of the total P91.28 billion earmarked for PHEBA, P73.26 billion was designated for health emergency allowance (HEA) and one Covid-19 allowance (OCA), with P12.90 billion allocated for special risk allowance (SRA).
Furthermore, P3.65 billion was specifically allocated for Covid-19 sickness and death compensation, while P1.4 billion was assigned for additional benefits such as meal, accommodation, and transportation allowances.
However, Health Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taiño said that they are still validating healthcare worker benefits under the PHEBA program, despite the release of funds.
Vidal-Taiño said the DOH has yet to complete the health emergency allowance (HEA) mapping, which was recommended by the DBM.
The DBM earlier suggested for the DOH to develop a “HEA Mapping” that will capture and present all PHEBA claims and payments by regional/health facilities.
Both agencies earlier agreed that there is a need for the DOH to urgently finalize the computation of the HEA claims in arrears to enable the DBM to determine if additional funding requirements are necessary.
“In response to this agreement, our Office, with assistance from al Operating Units (OUs), has created a HEA mapping outlining both the released funds and the remaining funds required for the aforementioned grant,” Vidal-Taiño said.
“Please be advised that the data provided in this mapping are subject to change. This is due to the ongoing validation process of the submitted COVID-19 Risk Exposure Classification (CREC) Reports by health facilities, as well as the processing and release of sub-allotted funds amounting to P19,790,290,937.50 specific for HEA grant,” she added.
In a recent meeting between the two agencies, they agreed that there is a need for the DOH to urgently finalize the computation of the HEA claims in arrears to determine if additional funding requirements are necessary despite the cumulatively released PHEBA allocations for healthcare and non-healthcare workers.
The DOH committed to submit the aforementioned HEA mapping with the final amount of computed PHEBA deficiencies by this month.
Then it will be subject to the DBM’s validation based on submitted documents and the amounts reflected in the Health Emergency Allowance Processing System
For this year, a total of P18.96 billion has been allocated to cover the payment of HEA claims of eligible public and private healthcare and non-healthcare workers, which leaves a balance of P14.88 billion for the implementation of the program.
"We will endeavor to release the balance, as well as the unfunded HEA claims of roughly P14 billion to fulfill the commitment of President Bongbong Marcos in his SONA,” DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said.