Press Release - Bong Go bats for continuous support for Filipino healthcare workers as he reminds DBM, DOH to release health emergency allowance due to HCWs

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has emphasized the critical need for ample government support for Filipino healthcare workers. He reminded the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Health, and other concerned agencies to ensure that allowances and benefits due to qualified HCWs are released in accordance with the law.

During the Senate plenary session on Wednesday, November 8, Go questioned the delayed disbursement of the health emergency allowance and underscored its significance in providing immediate financial relief to healthcare frontliners.

"We passed Republic Act 11712 which grants continuing benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during public health emergencies, like COVID-19. Last July, the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 throughout the Philippines has been lifted by President Marcos, sa kabila nito may mga healthcare workers pa na hindi nababayaran ang kanilang HEA o health emergency allowance," Go cited.

"Sa pag-iikot ko po ng bansa, may lumalapit sakin at ipinaparating na, 'Sir, yung aming HEA ay hindi pa nila nababayaran, di pa namin natatanggap.' Parati natin sinasabi na sila ang ating hero noong pandemya at hindi natin mararating ito kung hindi po dahil sa kanila," he added.

Go's inquiry is particularly relevant, given that the government has set aside a substantial amount of P19.962 billion for public health emergency benefits and allowances in the 2023 national budget, covering both healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Furthermore, an additional P52.962 billion in unprogrammed funds is allocated for the potential compensation of healthcare professionals.

Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara said that P19.6 billion has already been disbursed from the programmed funds, while an additional P4 billion has been allocated from the unprogrammed funds.

Meanwhile, Go questioned the rationale behind the approval of only a specific portion of the proposed P66.3 billion 2024 Department of Health (DOH) budget for the compensation of COVID-19 workers in health facilities.

Go then stressed that these frontliners have incurred various expenses