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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Has DOH completed crucial task? Villafuerte asks following release of P27-B Covid benefits 

Has DOH completed crucial task? Villafuerte asks following release of P27-B Covid benefits 

Published Jul 12, 2024 05:49 am

At A Glance

  • Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte wants to know if the Department of Health (DOH) has finished its nationwide mapping of medical workers.
  • Villafuerte said this would help ensure the quick distribution of the P27-billion Covid-19 health emergency allowance (HEA) that is due them. 

received_1625761704301132.jpeg(Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Has the Department of Health (DOH) finished its nationwide mapping of medical workers?

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte sure hopes so, as this would help ensure the quick distribution of the P27-billion Covid-19 health emergency allowance (HEA) that is due them.

In a statement, Villafuerte hailed Malacañang forreleasing the remaining HEA for healthcare workers (HCWs) who have long been waiting for the benefit.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed that the DOH has wrapped up by now its nationwide mapping of the HCW- and non-HCW beneficiaries in every private hospital and LGUs (local government units), plus the actual amounts due each of them," he said.

"The speedy release of the long-due arrears to the department’s regional offices, and then to the private hospitals and LGUs, is contingent on the timely completion of this huge paperwork, as had been recommended by the DBM (Department of Budget and Management)," stressed Villafuerte.

“It’s already a year and two months after the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the worldwide health emergency spawned by Covid-19 as officially over, so it’s really time now for our medical frontliners during the three-year pandemic to get the economic benefits due them for their untold sacrifices to save lives back then,” he added.

The DBM had claimed earlier that the release to the intended beneficiaries of previous disbursements to cover the HEA claims were delayed because it had taken time for the DOH to complete the required documents pertaining to the number of beneficiaries, the amounts due them, and what LGUs or private hospitals they were stationed in.

Hence, prior to the release of the remaining P27 billion in unpaid benefits, the DBM recommended to the DOH earlier this year to undertake a nationwide mapping of the beneficiary-workers and their respective HEA claims to speed up the payouts to these HCWs and non-HCWs.

Villafuerte, National Unity Party (NUP) president, was a lead author of the laws that had provided for such benefits to HCW during the Covid-19 health crisis.

Related Tags

Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) Department of Health (DOH) lray villafuerte
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