BACOLOD, Philippines – More than a thousand medical workers in nine public hospitals across Negros Occidental remain uncertain about when they will receive their long-overdue health emergency allowance (HEA) for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P27.453 billion in HEA funds nationwide on July 5. But in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, only private hospital workers and staff from provincial, municipal, and city health offices have received their allowances.
These payments covered periods from August to December 2021 and January to July 2023.
The workers left waiting include those at the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TJPH) in Silay City and eight other district hospitals in Cadiz City, Isabela, Himamaylan City, Valladolid, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, Hinoba-an, and Sipalay City.
Randy Peacita, president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE), said health workers in the nine hospitals under the provincial government’s payroll have yet to receive their allowances.
These include health workers at the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TJPH) in Silay City and eight other district hospitals located in Cadiz City, Isabela, Himamaylan City, Valladolid, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, Hinoba-an, and Sipalay City.
HEA rates are categorized as follows: P3,000 per month for those working in low-risk areas, P6,000 per month for medium-risk areas, and P9,000 per month for high-risk areas.
The DBM owes health workers in Negros Occidental hospitals more than P202.8 million, according to Peacita.
Health Undersecretary Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral, former head of the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, told Rappler on Friday, November 29, that she is coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) and the DBM to resolve the delay in releasing funds.
The Health Emergency Allowance (HEA), mandated by Republic Act No. 11712 enacted on April 27, 2022, provides continuing benefits for public and private health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and future health emergencies.
Meanwhile, in Sagay City, a city hall official is under investigation over P7.3 million in missing HEA funds intended for health care workers.
Sagay Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. said he has referred the case to the Commission on Audit (COA), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) to expedite the investigation.
Sagay City Administrator Ryan Bonghanoy said the COA has ordered the official to account for not only the missing P7.3 million but also the total P22 million HEA disbursed to Sagay health care workers in July. The official has been given 30 days to liquidate the funds.
Javelosa said some health workers in Sagay have not yet received their allowances. To address the issue and avoid further disruption, he said he is exploring alternative solutions. – Rappler.com