The Department of Health (DOH) has already distributed P536.74 million worth of special risk allowance (SRA) to health workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday.
Duque reported to President Rodrigo Duterte in a taped Cabinet briefing that for Batch 3 and Batch 4 of the SRA, they also have disbursed P662.20 million to health facilities, as of October 4.
The DOH is also coordinating with private hospitals and local government units in releasing the remaining amount of P1.33 billion SRAs to health workers.
“We are continuing to work with local governments and private hospitals to complete the disbursement of P1.33 billion to health workers as soon as possible,” said Duque.
The Health Secretary said they are also asking more funds from the government to expand its SRA to other health workers.
Overall, Duque said they have so far disbursed P15.3 billion benefits to healthcare workers amid the pandemic.
Several medical frontliners have expressed frustration over the delays in the distribution of benefits, holding protests and calling for Duque’s ouster.
During the House budget deliberations, it was revealed that the reduction in the proposed 2022 budget for the country’s COVID-19 response affects funds for health workers’ SRA.
