THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday assured all eligible health and care workers of the swift release of the P6.767 billion remaining balance of the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) stemming from their services during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a statement, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa guaranteed that the budget is ready for disbursement to qualified medical frontliners as long as their requirements are complete.
“Like last year, we saw that within about two months after the release of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO), the DOH immediately paid the pending claims of our health and care workers, who are qualified for the benefit,” said Herbosa.
“As long as they are registered, they should be able to get their HEAs immediately,” he added.
The health chief issued the assurance after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the SARO amounting to P6.767 billion.
The amount is equivalent to the remaining balance of the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (Pheba) of more than 1.4 million medical workers from 2021 to 2023.
The DBM said the fund was sourced from the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (Sagip) under the Unprogrammed Appropriations of the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
The DOH called on local government units (LGUs) and private hospitals to ensure the speedy release of the HEAs to their workers.
“We remind our LGUs and private hospitals or clinics to ensure that health and care workers are paid quickly and properly upon receiving funds from the DOH,” said Herbosa.
Under the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (Pheba) for Health Care Workers Act, public and private health care workers who served during the COVID-19 pandemic are entitled to HEAs.
Those with high-risk exposure are entitled to P9,000 monthly HEA, followed by P6,000 monthly HEA for those at medium-risk exposure, while those with low-risk exposure are entitled to P3,000 monthly allowance.
The Pheba covers the grant of benefits and compensation to healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-healthcare workers (non-HCWs) who rendered service during the state of public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DBM had previously released to the Department of Health (DOH) P121.325 billion to fund the Special Risk Allowance, Health Emergency Allowance or One COVID-19 Allowance, COVID-19 Sickness and Death Compensation, and other benefits like meal, accommodation, and transportation allowances.
In 2024, the DOH requested additional funds amounting to P27.453 billion to fully cover the requirements of the program.
Last February, the DOH again requested an additional P6.727 billion to cover the remaining Pheba requirements.
