(PHOTO:PIXABAY)
Thousands of health and care workers are set to finally receive their long-delayed Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P6.767 billion to the Department of Health (DOH).
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the funds cover the remaining balance of HEA claims of qualified medical frontliners nationwide.
“Maraming salamat po sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM) at nailabas na nila ang Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) na utos ng ating Pangulo para sa P6.767 bilyon na balanse ng Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) (We thank the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for releasing the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO), as directed by the President, for the P6.767 billion balance of the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA),” Herbosa said in a statement released on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
He assured health workers that payments will be processed swiftly.
“Tulad noong nakaraang taon, nakita natin na sa loob lamang ng humigit-kumulang dalawang buwan pagkalabas ng SARO ay nababayaran agad ng DOH ang mga pending claims ng ating mga health and care workers na kwalipikado para sa benepisyo (Like last year, we saw that within about two months after the release of the SARO, the DOH was able to pay the pending claims of our qualified health and care workers),” he noted.
The health chief emphasized that eligible frontliners should not experience delays in receiving the benefit.
“Basta rehistrado na ay dapat makuha agad ang HEA (Once registered, the HEA should be received right away),” Herbosa added.
Also, he called on local government units (LGUs), private hospitals, and clinics to promptly release the allowance to their workers once the funds are downloaded.
“Tayo po ay nagpapaalala sa ating mga LGU at private hospitals o clinics na siguraduhing mabilis at maayos ang pagbayad sa mga health and care workers pagkatanggap ng pondo mula sa DOH (We remind our LGUs and private hospitals or clinics to ensure fast and proper payment to health and care workers upon receipt of funds from the DOH),” said Herbosa.