Quimbo to DOH: Can’t unobligated P51.18 billion be used for health workers’ SRAs?

Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo on Thursday grilled the Department of Health (DOH) over the slow utilization of COVID-19 funds at a time when healthcare workers have been demanding the release of their benefits and allowances.

During the deliberations on the proposed P242.22 billion of the DOH, Quimbo presented data from the Department of Budget and Management, which indicated that as of June, there is still an unobligated allotment worth P51.18 billion.

"This is a DBM report that would indicate COVID releases from March 2020 to June 2021 and this would indicate a total released allotment of P160.9 billion, total obligations of P109 billion and total disbursed of P59 billion and therefore  total unobligated, as of June 30, amounting to P51.2 billion," Quimbo said.

The P160.9 billion referred to by Quimbo stemmed from the Bayanihan laws and the 2021 national budget.

Quimbo, an economist, asked why there is still a huge amount of funds, which remain unused.

"Bakit po napakarami pa ng unused funds natin? Alam naman natin na napakaimportante po na gamitin ang bawat piso lalong-lalo na po sa pandemic response?" Quimbo said.

[Why is there still a huge amount of unused funds? We all know that we need to use every amount for the COVID-19 pandemic response.]

"Notable dito 'yung nabanggit kanina na foreign-assisted programs mayroon pong allotment na P66.7 billion na inutang natin from multilateral agencies... mayroon pa pong natitira ditong P40 billion as of 30 June 2021," she added.

[The remaining P40 billion from the P66.7 billion in loans from foreign-assisted programs remain notable too.]

The lawmaker also asked if the P51.18 billion could be used to fund the special risk allowance (SRA) of healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle.

"Naghahanap tayo ng pondo ng SRAs para sa ating frontliners at hindi natin malaman saan natin kukunin 'yan. Puwede ba natin gamitin ito?" Quimbo asked.

[We are looking for funds for the SRAs. We don't know where we will get that. Can we not use this P51.18 billion?]

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who said that he has not seen the reports, said the funds would continue to be utilized for the rest of 2021.

"The [remaining] P51.2 billion as stated will continue to be utilized for the remaining of the year... this is part of the 2021 budget..." the Health chief said.

On the other hand, DOH's director for administration and financial management team Rowena Lora said the agency has been reconciling its figures with the DBM, noting that on their records, the unobligated amount is P47 billion.

"We have been reconciling with DBM with regards to these figures containing the COVID-19 releases to the Department of Health since last year until June 30, 2021," Lora said.

"We have been trying to look for the funds needed for the benefits of health workers. In fact we have conducted several meetings with regional offices and some operational units para mahanap din ang savings na nasa kanila [to find their savings]," she added.

Medical frontliners from both government hospitals and the private institutions have been complaining about the non-release of their special risk allowance and the removal of their other benefits such as meal and transportation allowance even as they continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have staged protests over these unreleased benefits as they have sought for the ouster of Duque and President Rodrigo Duterte. — BM, GMA News