99% of SRA funds downloaded to health facilities —DOH

Almost the entire P311-million budget for the COVID-19 special risk allowance of 20,208 medical workers has been downloaded to health facilities, a government official said Thursday.

In a statement, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said 99% of the budget has been disbursed.

“Ang P311 milyon ay para sa first batch ng mga eligible healthcare workers na hindi pa nakatatanggap ng kanilang SRA, dagdag sa mga una na nating nabigyan. Nakapag request na rin po tayo ng additional na budget para sa susunod na batch ng eligible healthcare workers na makakakuha ng SRA,” Vega said.

(The P311 million is for the first batch of eligible healthcare workers who did not receive their SRA. We have already requested an additional budget for SRA that will cover another batch of eligible healthcare workers.)

“Kami ay umaasa sa positibong pagtugon ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM).”

(We are looking forward to a favorable action by the Department of Budget and Management).

Under the guidelines, public and private health workers directly catering to COVID-19 patients are entitled to an SRA not exceeding P5,000 a month from December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

The SRA will be on a prorated basis, depending on the number of days that the healthcare workers were on duty in a month.

Vega said the DOH is also working with the DBM for the release of funds for meal, accommodation, and transportation (MAT) allowance.

Health workers from various hospitals earlier staged protests to demand the release of their benefits including the SRA, active hazard duty pay, and allowances for meals, accommodation, and transportation.—LDF, GMA News