DOH clears up concerns of protesting health workers

The Department of Health said Saturday that it has been able address the concerns raised by healthcare workers regarding their allowances, in the wake of the protest action at the DOH office in Manila.

"After the rally yesterday, pinatawag po natin 'yung mga healthcare workers na nag-rally at kinausap ng DOH officials" (We had a discussion with the protesters), Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

"We discussed the issue with them at nagkaroon naman po ng kalinawan" (we were able to clear up their concerns), she added.

In regard to the healthcare workers' 2018 performance-based bonus, Vergeire said there should be a secretariat to evaluate the submissions of their performance record for the release of their benefits.

She said that the DOH needs the documentary requirements of healthcare agencies to be able to facilitate the benefits' release.

Also, she said the issue on the modification of nurse salary grade was already forwarded to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

For its part, the DBM has already committed to the release of the policy issuance on retaining the Nurse 3 to Nurse 7 positions, she added.

Meanwhile, an amount of P9.7 billion was already downloaded to all DOH regional offices and hospitals as of June 30, 2021 for the special risk allowance (SRA).

According to Vergeire some facilities were unable to submit their proper requirements, causing delays in the SRA's issuance.

As health workers were protesting at the DOH office in Manila to demand the release of their benefits on Friday, health chief Secretary Francisco Duque III maintained that he had done his best to address the health workers' concerns. —LBG, GMA News