The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) urged the Department of Health (DOH) to fast-track the disbursement of the P91.3 billion funds for public health emergency benefits and allowances of healthcare workers.
Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the DBM has so far released over P91 billion in funds for health emergency allowances (HEAs) which were disbursed in the years 2021 (P12.1 billion), 2022 (P28 billion), 2023 (P31.1 billion), and 2024 (P19.962 billion).
“Alam n’yo po, lalo na po ngayon sa administrasyon po ng Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, ang utos po sa akin, ilabas ang budget,” the DBM chief stated.
[You know, especially now in the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, my order is to quickly release the budget.]
“Wala naman po tayong reason para i-hold ‘yung budget dahil gusto po natin makarating ‘yan nang mas mabilis sa mga kababayan natin. So, day 1 po, day 1 ng taon, ni-release ko na ang pondo sa mga Departments,” she added.
[We have no reason to hold the budget because we want it to reach our countrymen faster. So, on the first day of this year, I released the funds to the Departments.]
Of the P91.3 billion budget, some P73.26 billion were earmarked for HEA and one Covid-19 allowance, and P12.90 billion for special risk allowance.
Meanwhile, a total of P3.65 billion was allocated for Covid-19 sickness and death compensation, and P1.47 billion for other benefits, such as meal, accommodation, and transportation allowance.
Furthermore, the DBM chief also assured that they will help in securing funds for HEA if its budget becomes insufficient.
“Pinapangako po namin, dahil utos po ito ng ating Pangulo, na kung sakaling magkulang po, may source po tayo, ‘yung unprogrammed (appropriations). Kung magkulang din po ‘yan, anyway po, we're doing the 2025 budget preparations now. If we get the exact amount po, hopefully po mailagay po namin lahat sa NEP po—National Expenditure Program—the President's Budget for 2025,” she said.
[We promise, because of the order of our President, that if there is a shortage, we have a source, the unprogrammed (appropriations). If that is also lacking, anyway, we're doing the 2025 budget preparations now. If we get the exact amount, hopefully we can put it all in the NEP—National Expenditure Program—the President's Budget for 2025.]
Unprogrammed funds are standby funds for unforeseen priority programs or projects that shall be released when revenue collection exceeds targets, and when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.
Of the P5.768 trillion national budget this year, unprogrammed funds were allotted a total of P731.4 billion, an increase of P450 billion from the previous P281.9 billion.
Pangandaman also reiterated her request for the Department of Health to finalize its HEA mapping, which will track the hospitals that have claimed their HEA yet and those that haven't.
“Meron po tayong tinatawag na HEA mapping po sana. Para sana makita po natin ‘yung mga nabigyan at saka 'di nabigyan, para mas madali po makita doon kung ano po ang magiging balanse natin,” she said.