Cong. Salceda kakatukin ang DBM at DoH hinggil sa pagkabinbin ng emergency allowance ng mga health workers sa panahon pa ng pandemic

Nais ni House Special Committee on Food Security Chair and Albay 3rd District Representative Raymond Adrian Salceda na katukin ang Department of Budget and Management at ang Department of Health na pagaralan ang mabilisang pagpapalabas ng pondo para sa mga Health Workers na hanggang sa ngayon ay nakabinbin ang kanilang emergency allowance panahon pa ng kasagsagan pa ng COVID-19 Pandemic.

This is following thousands of claims of unpaid HEA due to recordkeeping issues with the DOH. The Health Emergency Allowance is mandated under Republic Act No. 11712. It entitles health workers to a monthly allowance during a declared public health emergency, with rates based on their level of exposure to risk. It was a key benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing the service and sacrifice of medical frontliners.

Salceda filed House Resolution No. 127 directing the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Health to determine the exact amount of unpaid benefits, include it in the current year’s budget, and submit a detailed report within 30 days. The resolution also instructs the House Committee on Appropriations to ensure that funding for these arrears is secured during budget deliberations.

“Nakakahiya na po kasi. Buwis buhay po ang trabaho ng frontliners noong COVID-19. Utang po ito, literal, ng gobyerno,” Salceda said. “The Department of Budget and Management is just following the law and I think that is good. But there must be a way to fix this so our health workers are paid while records are being completed. Kung magulo ang records, bawat frontliner na lang po ang gumawa ng sariling affidavit para patunayan ang kanilang serbisyo. Sa confidential funds nga po pwede ang papel lang na pipirmahan, sa health workers pa kaya.”ani Salceda.

Under Salceda’s proposal, each unpaid health worker would execute a sworn affidavit attesting to their eligibility, the period and nature of their service, and other relevant details. These affidavits would be submitted to the Department of Health and validated against whatever records are available. The Department of Budget and Management would then process payments immediately while the Commission on Audit conducts post-audit verification.

The Department of Budget and Management has already released ?121.325 billion from 2020 to early 2025 for Public Health Emergency Benefits. This includes ?27.453 billion in July 2024 to cover more than 5 million Health Emergency Allowance claims and 4,283 sickness and death compensation cases. Despite these releases, many claims remain pending due to missing or inconsistent facility documentation.

Salceda said the affidavit solution is meant to end this cycle of delay. “Hindi po ito simpleng papeles lang. Kabuhayan at karapatan po ito ng mga naglingkod sa pinakadelikadong panahon ng pandemya. Kung may utang tayo sa kanila, dapat ayusin agad at magtulungan tayo.” (Cesar Barquilla)