The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday approved the release of P11.5 billion to fund the unpaid allowance of 1.6 million health care workers (HCW).
The DBM said the money will cover the unfunded portion of some 2,613,331 approved One Covid-19 Allowance (OCA) or Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) claims by the Department of Health (DoH), as of Sept. 5, 2022, with a total funding requirement of P18.7 billion.
“Our health care workers deserve all the support and assistance from their government. They’ve been risking their lives to save and protect our people amidst this still prevailing pandemic. This is the least we can do for them,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
OCA Provision 14 under the Fiscal Year 2022 General Appropriations Act stipulates that benefits shall vary according to the risk exposure of the HCW in a particular setting.
The OCA was subsequently replaced by HEA under Republic Act 11712, an act granting mandatory continuing benefits and allowances to public and private health workers during the Covid-19 pandemic and other future public health emergencies.
Workers in high-risk Covid-19 condition will receive P9,000 monthly while those deployed in moderate and low-risk areas will get P6,000 and P3,000, respectively.
