Solon claims some admin staff receive SRA, DOH says hospital chiefs liable if true

Contrary to the policy of the Department of Health that only health workers directly handling COVID-19 patients were given special risk allowance, some hospital administrative staff also received it, Ang Probinsiyano party-list Representative Alfred delos Santos claimed Friday.

“According po sa inyo ang SRA is dedicated lang sa health workers na direktang humahawak sa COVID patients. My question is bakit based sa reports ng ilang health workers marami sa kanila e hindi nakakatanggap nito pero ‘yung mga admin o ilang staff na nasa opisina lang e merong mga SRA?” Delos Santos asked Health officials during the House hearing.

(According to you, SRA is dedicated to health workers directly handling COVID patients. My question is why, based on the reports of health workers, many of them did not receive it while some admin or office staff were able to get SRA?)

DOH Assistant Secretary Maylene Beltran said the primary responsibility of distributing SRA rests on the head of the facility. 

Delos Santos pointed out that the hospitals and the local government units were given too much discretion on the distribution of the SRAs and other benefits.

Beltran said the distribution was based on the law providing for the SRAs as well as the administrative issuances from the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management.

She further explained that the disbursements are being monitored by the central office in coordination with the regional directors along with the development management officers who are going to each hospital to oversee the release of the funds.

She admitted, however, they have received similar complaints as she asked Delos Santos if he can provide the names of the specific hospitals.

“I also shared my email address, marami na rin po kaming nare-recieve. Kung may mga ganito ho pwede hong makuha ang specific hospitals, regions para maaksyunan kasi kami ho nakakarinig kami ng ganyan,” she said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III added there are Commission on Audit officers in each public health hospital which will liquidate the distribution of the SRAs and other benefits due to the nurses and doctors.

He added that the local COA officers will check if there are discrepancies in the distribution of SRAs and if the disbursement followed the guidelines set by the DOH and the DBM.

“Ang mga hospital chiefs may accountability po ang mga ‘yan…’Yang accountability na ‘yan pag nakita na nagkamali sila they will be liable, may notice of disallowance and they will be the ones to pay kung ano man ang natanggap at mali ang naibigay, ‘yung head, chief of the hospital will be the accountable officer,” Duque explained.

(The hospital chiefs have the accountability on the distribution of benefits. If there were discrepancies on the releases, they will be liable for it, they will be issued with notice of disallowance and they will be the ones to pay for the released money. The head, the chief of the hospital will be the accountable officer.)

The Health chief said that the DOH Central Office cannot focus only on the distribution of SRA funds to each hospital due to lack of manpower.

“Kaya may delegated authority po as per management na talagang mga hospital chief, regional directors na talagang sila ang magbabantay na tama po ang pagpapatupad ng benepisyo,” he said.

(That is why we have delegated authority. As per management, the hospital chiefs and the regional directors will oversee the release of these benefits.)

Hospital chiefs who will be found liable on any wrongful distribution of the benefits may face sanctions before the Civil Service Commission based on the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials.

For the private hospitals, however, Duque said it will processed by the company’s human resources department.

Several groups of health workers from both government hospitals and the private institutions have been complaining of the non-release of their special risk allowance and the removal of their other benefit such as meal and transportation allowance even as they continue to be at the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19.

Some have threatened to go on mass leave over what they call is government’s neglect of their plight.—AOL, GMA News