DOH yet to complete health emergency allowance mapping

Despite the release of over P91 billion of funds since 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) is yet to complete its task of mapping all the health emergency benefits and allowances claims of both private and public health workers.

In a letter to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) by Health Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taiño, the DOH informed the Budget Department that it has yet to complete health emergency allowance (HEA) mapping.

In a meeting in January, the DBM and the DOH agreed to finalize the computation of the HEA claims in arrears to allow the Budget Department to determine if additional funding requirements are necessary “despite the cumulatively released PHEBA [Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances] allocations for our healthcare and non-healthcare workers.”

The DBM suggested that the DOH develop a HEA mapping that will capture and present all PHEBA claims and payments by regional/health facilities for the period covered by the benefit.

“In response to this agreement, our Office, with assistance from all Operating Units (OUs), has created a HEA mapping outlining both the released funds and the remaining funds required for the aforementioned grant,” the DOH said in its letter.

“Please be advised that the data provided in this mapping are subject to change. This is due to the ongoing validation process of the submitted COVID-19 Risk Exposure Classification (CREC) Reports by health facilities, as well as the processing and release of sub-allotted funds amounting to P19,790,290,937.50 specific for HEA grant,” the Health Department said.

The DOH, in its letter, added that the HEA mapping will be posted on its official website to ensure accountability and transparency of the funds.

The DOH sent the letter in response to the DBM’s letter asking it to submit the HEA mapping which was supposed to detail the utilization, disbursement, and distribution of PHEBA releases not later than March 15, 2024.

The said mapping will provide a comprehensive status of the PHEBA, which our departments shall use in expediting the final determination of the amount of deficiency to cover the full settlement of arrears.

The DBM also recommended that said record be published in the DOH website for transparency to all claimants and stakeholders alike.

Data released by the DBM showed that it already released a total of P91.283 billion to DOH for PHEBA, including some P73.26 billion for Health Emergency Allowance (HEA)/One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA), P12.90 billion for Special Risk Allowance (SRA), P3.65 billion for COVID-19 Sickness and Death Compensation, and P1.4 billion for other benefits, such as meal, accommodation, and transportation allowance.

The breakdown of released funds to DOH is as follows:

• 2021: P12.1 billion
• 2022: P28 billion
• 2023: P31.1 billion
• 2024 : P19.962 billion

The Health Department, however, reported that it released a total of P76.1 billion to health workers.

The amount was to pay for 8,549,207 claims from July 1, 2021 to July 20, 2023.

Republic Act No. 11712, also known as the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act, is a benefit for frontline workers who rendered services at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic provided under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2).—AOL, GMA Integrated News