SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez welcomed the release of P6.767 billion for healthcare workers’ overdue allowances, highlighting it as a concrete show of gratitude for their sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the payment of the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s clear directive to promote the welfare of healthcare workers who served on the frontlines during the pandemic.
“We are grateful for our President’s support for our healthcare workers. He did not abandon our doctors, nurses, and other medical frontliners who faithfully served the people and sacrificed to save our countrymen even though they were tired, hungry, and far from their loved ones,” Romualdez said.
“We consider our doctors, nurses, and other frontline healthcare workers as new heroes in the midst of fear and serious illness during the pandemic. Their care and loyalty to duty we can never repay,” he added.
He vowed to continue to improve the benefits of healthworkers.
The P6.767 billion for unpaid HEAs was released through a Special Allotment Release Order from the DBM.
It covers a total of 1,411,546 claims from 2021 to 2023 from local government units, private health facilities, state universities, and other institutions.
Under Republic Act 11712 or the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act of 2022, healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers are entitled to HEAs, COVID-19 compensation benefits, and health insurance coverage in case of hospital confinement.
Those deployed to low-risk areas are entitled to a P3,000 HEA per month, while those in medium-risk areas are entitled to P6,000 per month. Those deployed to high-risk areas will receive P9,000 monthly.
In 2024, the DBM released P121.325 billion to cover the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances of eligible healthcare and non-healthcare workers. This included HEAs worth P27.383 billion and a COVID-19 compensation package worth P70.7 billion.
In February 2025, the DOH presented an updated request for an additional P6.7 billion to cover the final balance of unpaid HEAs.
Romualdez also called on the DOH, LGUs, and hospitals to ensure that HEAs are promptly and properly disbursed to eligible healthcare workers.
“We strive to value our healthcare workers—not just as professionals who take care of our countrymen’s health, but as our partners in advancing the healthcare sector. As we forge our way towards a Bagong Pilipinas, we public servants should work hard to make our healthcare workers feel that they can count on the government in their times of need,” the Speaker added.
