“Nailabas na po namin nung July 5 ‘yung SARO at yung NCA para po mai-distribute na po ‘yung balanse. Naka-address po ito sa Department of Health dahil sila po ang mag-i-implement po ng distribution,” said DBM SEcretary Amenah Pangandaman.
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the P27-billion remaining arrears of the government for the COVID-19 health emergency allowance (HEA) of healthcare workers have already been released.
“The DOH requested an amount of more than P27 billion, so the DBM, under SARO (Special Allotment Order) No. BMB-B-24005240 dated July 5, 2024, as well as the corresponding cash requirement issued under NCA (Notice of Cash Allowance)-BMB-B-24-009106 to cover the payment for public health emergency benefits allowance of eligible health care workers and non-health workers was released,” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.
The DBM said the P27.453-billion budget, released through the SARO and NCA, will cover payments for 4,283 COVID-19 Sickness and Death Compensation claims for eligible healthcare and non-healthcare personnel as well as 5,039,926 validated but unpaid health emergency allowance.
Pangandaman made the disclosure during the Senate Committee on Health and Demography’s hearing on July 30, 2024, the DBM said.
“Nailabas na po namin nung July 5 ‘yung SARO at yung NCA para po mai-distribute na po ‘yung balanse. Naka-address po ito sa Department of Health dahil sila po ang mag-i-implement po ng distribution,” said Pangandaman.
(We already released, last July 5, the SARO and NCA to distribute the balance. This was addressed to the Department of Health because they are the agency that will implement the distribution.)
The settlement of all unpaid arrears for the HEA has been ordered by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
