President Rodrigo Duterte gave the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ten days to pay all delayed benefits of health workers.
The DOH is demanding P311 million for 20,156 health workers. However, according to the DBM, there are already visible sources of funding for this.
“‘Yung para doon sa government healthcare workers kukunin ‘yun sa isang special purpose fund… Ang tawag diyan eh miscellaneous personnel benefits fund…. Ang medyo may issue lang ‘yung para du’n sa galing sa private hospitals… Within the 10 day period mare-release ‘yon pero optimistic ako na within this week,” said DBM OIC Undersecretary Tina Canda.
On Monday, DOH-NCR explained the guidelines on COVID-19 benefits.
The special risk allowance (SRA), for example, is only for those assigned to COVID-19 hospitals and facilities.
COVID-19 compensation is only for symptomatic occupational illnesses.
While meals, accommodation, and transportation allowance, will only be available if a facility cannot afford it.
It also gave an August 26 deadline to hospitals for submitting the list of eligible health workers.
“‘Wag niyo na pong hintayin ang Aug. 26. Pag hindi kayo naka-submit pasensiyahan na po tayo kasi we cannot wait forever… Kasi hindi po kami ang maglilista, it’s the health facility,” said DOH-NCR Director Gloria Balboa.
Health workers frustrated over DOH’s delay in releasing benefits
But health workers observed why do they still seem to be stuck with the DOH deadline?
“Kailangan ba na umabot tayo sa ganito na naghahabol tayo palagi?” said Benjamin Sant, nurse at Philippine General Hospital.
The Private Hospitals Association also said earlier that many of them have submitted requirements for a long time, but the DOH process is prolonged.
Health workers are threatening a big protest if their benefits are not given on September 1.
Although the Palace is begging not to continue this, it is also said that it will not be prevented if many resign because they are very disappointed with their situation.
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