₱30B released for health emergency allowance in 2023; ₱14.88B remains unpaid — DBM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 15) — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday said it released ₱30.1 billion for health emergency allowance to COVID-19 healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers in 2023, leaving an unpaid balance of ₱14.88 billion.

In a statement, DBM said of the ₱88.14 billion budget for the COVID-19 health emergency allowance, ₱24.19 billion was spent in 2022, P30.1 billion was released in 2023, while ₱18.96 billion has been ready for distribution since Jan. 1, 2024. That leaves a balance of P14.88 billion to fully implement the program, it added,

«We will endeavor to release the balance, as well as the unfunded HEA (health emergency allowance) claims of roughly P14 billion to fulfill the commitment of President Bongbong Marcos in his SONA,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.

Groups such as the Alliance of Health Workers have been calling for the long-overdue distribution of allowances for COVID-19 healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers.

The Department of Health earlier said the remaining health emergency allowance will be gradually released within three years or by 2026, as about 2 million healthcare workers have yet to receive their emergency allowance.

Under the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowance for Health Care Workers Act of 2022, healthcare and non-healthcare workers were entitled to benefits worth ₱3,000 to ₱9,000 for every month of service while the country was under a state of public health emergency due to COVID-19.

The public health emergency was lifted in July 2023