The Department of Health (DOH) is still validating healthcare worker benefits under the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA) program, despite the release of funds by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) since 2021.
DOH Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taiño said in a letter to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) dated March 13, 2024 said the agency has yet to complete the health emergency allowance (HEA) mapping, which was recommended by the DBM.
The DBM earlier asked the DOH to develop a “HEA Mapping” to capture and present all PHEBA claims and payments by regional/health facilities for the duration of the period covered by the benefit.
Both agencies underscored the need for the DOH to urgently finalize the computation of the HEA claims in arrears to enable the DBM to determine if additional funding requirements are necessary despite the cumulatively released of funds for healthcare and non-healthcare workers.
“In response to this agreement, our Office, with assistance from al Operating Units (OUs), has created a HEA mapping outlining both the released funds and the remaining funds required for the aforementioned grant,” Vidal-Taiño said.
“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,”’ she said.
Vidal-Taino said the HEA mapping would be posted on the official DOH website to ensure accountability and transparency of the funds,” it added.
The mapping will provide a comprehensive status of the PHEBA, which our departments shall use ni expediting the final determination of the amount of deficiency to cover the full settlement of arrears.
The DBM also recommended that such record be published in the DOH website for transparency to al claimants and stakeholders alike.
Data from the DBM showed that it already released a total of P91.283 billion to DOH for PHEBA from 2021 to 2023, 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.
In 2021, the DBM released P12.1 billion, P28 billion in 2022; P31.1 billion in 2023 and P19.96 billion in 2024.
Per the DOH report, out of the said amount, the agency was able to release a total of P76 billion.
The UNI Global Union’s Philippine Liaison Council, along with the United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines (UPHUP) and the Unified Filipino Service Workers (UFSW), joined by other healthcare worker unions, earlier called on the DOH to expedite the release of HEA funds.