Funds for COVID-19 allowance can be released provided DOH addresses deficiencies — DBM

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday said it is ready to grant the Department of Health’s (DOH) request for additional funds for healthcare workers' COVID-19 response allowance provided that the latter addresses deficiencies and substantiates its request.

“As long as DOH can address the deficiencies in the documentary requirements, DBM will immediately process the request to release funds, based on available budget,” the DBM said.

The Budget Department issued the statement in response to the DOH’s announcement that it is still negotiating with the DBM for the release of additional funds so that they can pay for other healthcare workers who have not received their COVID-19 allowance.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they received a letter from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) asking for their One COVID Allowance (OCA) to be released.

In February, the DBM said it released P7.92 billion to cover for the allowance of healthcare workers and other personnel involved in the COVID-19 response, pursuant to the Republic Act (RA) No. 11712 or the “Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Healthcare Workers Act.”

The Budget Department said the DOH requested again for the release of P63 billion on May 26.

“On June 8, DBM sent them a response letter requesting them to address the deficiencies on the documentary requirements they submitted,” it said.

“Essentially, we requested them to substantiate their request by sending us the budget breakdown, segregation, actual names of claimants, and other relevant documents for us to clearly determine the universe of eligible beneficiaries,” it added.

The DBM said that subsequent meetings were held between the two departments relative to the data requirement “until the request was finally returned by DBM, on June 29, reiterating the required data from the DOH.”

“DOH replied to us on July 15, but they were only able to address and substantiate documents that are related to unpaid COVID-19 sickness and death claims for FY 2020 and 2021 worth P570 million, which enabled us to release the same amount in August,” the Budget Department said.

Nonetheless, DBM said it empathizes with healthcare workers, and are working hard with the DOH to “ensure that they are accorded with the allowances and benefits that they deserve.”

GMA News Online sought the comment of DOH on DBM's statement but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte earlier signed into law a measure mandating continuous benefits to all healthcare workers in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic and other future public health emergencies.—AOL, GMA News