DBM to release remaining P27B fund for healthcare Covid-19 allowance

THE Department of Budget and Management on Thursday said the remaining P27-billion arrears of government for the COVID-19 health emergency allowance (HEA) of healthcare workers is set to be finally released on Friday, July 5.

The DBM said that the Department of Health (DOH) in May requested for the issuance of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) amounting to P27.453 billion. The same amount was proposed by the DOH to be included in their 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

This was to cover payment of 5,039,926 remaining validated unpaid HEA and 4,283 COVID-19 sickness and death compensation claims of eligible healthcare and non-healthcare workers who provided service at the height of the pandemic. 

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that they strived to settle the long overdue HEA claims upon the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

“This is a promise fulfilled. Kahit sa 2025 pa ito hinihiling ng DOH, sinikap po ng DBM na mas maaga itong tuparin, dahil deserve po ito ng ating mga manggagawa sa health sector,” Pangandaman said in a statement on Thursday.