Press Release - Bong Go urges DOH, DBM to prioritize pleas of healthcare workers and settle unpaid Health Emergency Allowances due to them

During a public hearing on Tuesday, April 2, conducted by the Senate Committee on Health joint with the Committee on Finance, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to expedite the release of the long-overdue Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) owed to healthcare workers for their critical service during the pandemic.

Last Congress, Go is one of the authors and co-sponsors in the Senate of the Republic Act No. 11712, which grants benefits and allowances to healthcare workers during public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency in the country, he continues to appeal to the executive to release the pending health emergency allowances due to qualified healthcare workers.

During the hearing, Go commenced with an acknowledgment of the healthcare workers' sacrifices during the pandemic. He expressed his commitment to ensuring their welfare is prioritized, particularly in urging concerned agencies for the release of the HEA.

"Sila po ang heroes sa panahon ng pandemya, hindi po natin mararating ito kung hindi po dahil sa kanilang sakripisyo," he said.

"Alam niyo, isisingit ko nalang po. Nabanggit po sa (social media) posts ng mga healthcare workers natin na hindi pa nakatanggap ng HEA, nanawagan po sila sa akin. Gusto ko lang po sagutin ito. Nabanggit niyo doon na maybe na lip service lang po yung panawagan natin. Hindi po ako ganun, ako po yung taong aksyon agad," Go stated.

He clarified that while senators, like himself, can advocate and push for priorities within the budget, the initial proposals and allocations come from the Executive Branch, specifically through the DBM, before being scrutinized and approved by the legislative bodies and finally signed by the President. The implementation of the government's budget also lies with the executive.

"So, tatanungin po natin sila ngayon kung ano po ba ang naging prayoridad nila, at kung isa ba ang Health Emergency Allowance sa prayoridad nila dito sa paglalaan po ng pondo," he said.

During the discussion, it was revealed that more than PhP19 billion has been allocated for