DBM asks DOH to submit addt’l documents for P27-B health worker’s COVID-19 allowance

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday said there are still available funds which can be tapped to cover the release of about P27 billion requested by the Department of Health (DOH) for healthcare workers’ COVID-19 response allowance.

In a statement, the DBM said it has received, on November 8, the request of the DOH for the release of P27,058,901,368.80 to cover the payment of unpaid Health Emergency Allowance (HEA)/One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA) claims of 2,106,908 eligible public and private healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-healthcare workers covering the period of July 2021 to December 2022.

The DOH, on Tuesday, said it requested the DBM to release P27 billion for the HEA/OCA.

The Budget Department said the HEA/OCA program falls under Unprogrammed Appropriation, and it will have to check first with the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) if the government has available excess revenue to cover the request.

“In light of this, allow us to note that upon checking the status of fund releases to DOH as of October 30, 2022, there is still an unobligated amount of P113,925,437,435.39, including the P40.273 billion releases for COVID-19 vaccines which is not expected to be further pursued this year,” the DBM said.

“This allotment may be used for other similar priority projects, such as the OCA/HEA, that can be obligated within the fiscal year, subject to a BTr certification for any excess collection and/or new revenue collections from tax and non-taxes revenue sources,” it said.

With this, the DBM is asking the DOH to submit the following additional documents “to enable us to fully evaluate the subject request”:

•     Certification that claims of eligible public and private HCWs and non-HCWs for OCA/HEA have been verified and DOH assumes full responsibility for the veracity and accuracy of the listed claims and authenticity of the supporting documents,
•     Summary of total funding requirements by region,
•     List of eligible public and private HCWs and non-HCWs for OCA/HEA, and
•     Revised Monthly Disbursement Program – BED No. 3 (Personnel Services, not subject to withholding tax).

“The DBM is confident that the required documents will be provided to allow us to proceed with the processing of the release of the said additional fund request. We are one with the DOH in seeking to properly compensate our hardworking healthcare workers and help them receive the benefits entitled to them,” the DBM said.

The Budget Department said it recognizes the selflessness, dedication, and sacrifice of healthcare workers in serving our countrymen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are therefore working hard to ensure that they will get the allowances and benefits they deserve,” it said.

The DBM said that Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved in October the release of P1.04-Billion to the DOH to cover the special risk allowance (SRA) claims of 55,211 HCWs.

“On top of this, the DBM has released a total of P19,478,277,773.00 to the DOH to cover the payment of HEA/OCA claims of eligible public and private HCWs and non-HCW until June 30, 2022,” it said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News