Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman has urged to fast-track the creation of a mapping system to track hospitals that have not received health emergency allowances.
During a radio interview, Pangandaman called on the Department of Health (DOH) to address the issues that slow down the release of HEA claims.
"Nag-request po ako na sana magkaroon po sila ng mapping – HEA mapping, para hindi po sila mahirapan sa listahan kung anu-ano po 'yung mga hospital. Kasi ang pinakamahirap po talaga, and nakikita ko rin po, is ‘yung pag-validate po nung mga hospitals tsaka ng mga pangalan,” she said.
[ requested that the DOH have a HEA mapping so that they don't have a hard time with the list of hospitals they monitor. From what I see, the most difficult thing is validating the hospitals and their names]
“Sana po kung nakapag-release po sila ng ilang bilyon, alam po nila saan napunta 'yung bilyong pisong pondo na ‘yon. So, mas madali po makita kung sino 'yung mga hindi nabayaran," she added.
[If they were able to release a few billion, they should know where that billion pesos fund went so it's easier to see who the hospitals that haven't been paid.]
The DBM chief said that the DOH already has a link for the HEA mapping and that it is still subject for adjustment.
“Tapos, nag-promise po sila na aayusin nila 'yung link na 'yun. So, siguro po, bigyan natin sila ng oras. Sana po within the month, sana po matapos nila 'yun," she further said.
[They promised that they would fix that link. So, maybe, let's give them time. I hope they finish it within the month.]
In a meeting held earlier this year, the DBM suggested that the DOH develop a HEA mapping that will capture and present all HEA claims and payments by region and health facilities to aid hospitals monitor the status of HEA releases.
It will also help in expediting the final determination of the actual amount of deficiency to cover the full settlement of arrears, the DBM said.
Of the P91.283 billion released by the DBM for public health emergency benefits and allowances since pandemic, over P73 billion was allocated for health emergency allowance and one COVID-19 allowance, P12.90 billion for special risk allowance, P3.65 billion for COVID-19 sickness and death compensation, and P1.4 billion for other benefits, such as meal, accommodation, and transportation allowance.
"This year po, ang total budget po natin na nilagay para sa HEA is P19.962 billion. So mga P20 billion po ang meron sa GAA. 'Yung budget po natin this year, ang ginagawa po natin is comprehensively released. Binigay na po natin lahat 'yan sa DOH. So, sila po ang bahala mag-disburse,” the DBM chief said.
[This year, our total budget for the HEA is P19.962 billion. So the GAA has about P20 billion. Our budget this year is being comprehensively released. We have released all to the DOH. So, they are in charge of disbursing.]
Out of the P91 billion budget released by DBM to the agency, the DOH has so far disbursed P64 billion, based on the data submitted to DBM.
Pangandaman also suggested that the DOH consider the use of a blanket memorandum of agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and private organizations to solve bottlenecks in releasing the remaining unpaid HEA claims, mostly from private hospitals and local government units (LGUs).
“Gayunpaman po, we assure our healthcare workers that we will continue to act on the matter. Gusto po ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na mai-settle na ng gobyerno sa lalong madaling panahon ang unpaid HEA claims ng ating mga healthcare workers,” she said.
[However, we assure our healthcare workers that we will continue to act on the matter. President Bongbong Marcos wants the government to settle the unpaid HEA claims of our healthcare workers as soon as possible.]