DBM slash affected allocation for health workers' SRA in 2022, says Duque

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has reduced the COVID-19 budget of the Department of Health (DOH) for 2022, affecting allocations for the allowances and benefits for health workers.

During budget deliberations, Duque said the department allocated P19.68 billion for its COVID-19 initiatives or health system resilience projects in 2022.

Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo, however, said the amount seems small for the government's COVID-19 response.

Duque bared that they initially proposed P73.99 billion in COVID-19 funds but it was not granted by the DBM.

"'Yung pinropose namin na budget noong June sa DBM was actually 73.99 billion and the breakdown of that would be for the actual hazard duty pay, the SRA (special risk allowance), the meals, accommodation and transportation and life insurance for P50.41 billion," Duque said.

Quimbo then asked Duque if this was the reason why there are no funds allotted for the allowances and benefits of healthcare workers in the proposed DOH budget, to which Duque answered in the affirmative.

During the House committee on health briefing on Wednesday, Duque said the funds for the benefits of medical frontliners are incorporated under the proposed Bayanihan 3 bill, which has not even been tackled by the Senate yet.

A total of P242.22 billion is being proposed for the DOH in fiscal year 2022. A huge chunk of this, or P78.83 billion, is allotted for COVID-19 initiatives and programs related to the Universal Health Care law. —KBK, GMA News