Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Mina F. Pangandaman reiterated her request for the Department of Health (DOH) to finalize its HEA mapping and address various issues that slow down, or cause bottlenecks on the release of HEA claims.
Secretary Pangandaman renewed her call to the DOH during her interview on DZBB’s “One on One Walang Personalan” on Monday, 15 April 2024.
In a meeting held earlier this year between the DBM and the DOH, the DBM suggested that the DOH develop a HEA mapping that will capture and present all HEA claims and payments by Region/Health Facilities. This will help stakeholders, such as concerned agencies and HCWs monitor the status of HEA releases. This will also aid in expediting the final determination of the actual amount of deficiency to cover the full settlement of arrears.
“Nag-request po ako na sana magkaroon po sila ng mapping – HEA mapping, para hindi po sila mahirapan sa listahan kung anu-ano po ‘yung mga hospital. Kasi ang pinakamahirap po talaga, and nakikita ko rin po, is ‘yung pag-validate po nung mga hospitals tsaka ng mga pangalan. Sana po kung nakapag-release po sila ng ilang bilyon, alam po nila saan napunta ‘yung bilyong pisong pondo na ‘yon. So, mas madali po makita kung sino ‘yung mga hindi nabayaran,” Secretary Pangandaman said.
“Meron na po silang link (for the HEA mapping), pero ang sabi po sa amin, that it is still a working document and subject for adjustment. Tapos, nag-promise po sila na aayusin nila ‘yung link na ‘yun. So, siguro po, bigyan natin sila ng oras. Sana po within the month, sana po matapos nila ‘yun,” she added.
The Budget Secretary reiterated this request as the budget for HEA covering all healthcare workers’ benefits has already been released to the DOH.
“Ibigay ko lang po ‘yung mga numero. To date po, mula po nang nagsimula ang pandemic, at tsaka po nagkaroon ng batas para mabigyan ng compensation ‘yung ating mga health workers, P91.283 billion na po ang nare-release ng DBM,” Secretary Pangandaman underscored.
Based on the data released by DBM Budget Management Bureau B, the released fund for Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA) included some P73.26B for Health Emergency Allowance (HEA)/One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA), P12.90B for Special Risk Allowance (SRA), P3.65B for COVID-19 Sickness and Death Compensation, and P1.4B for other benefits, such as meal, accommodation, and transportation allowance.
“This year po, ang total budget po natin na nilagay para sa HEA is P19.962 billion. So mga P20 billion po ang meron sa GAA. ‘Yung budget po natin this year, ang ginagawa po natin is comprehensively released. Binigay na po natin lahat ‘yan sa DOH. So, sila po ang bahala mag-disburse,” Sec. Mina said.
According to the data submitted by DOH to DBM, out of the P91 billion budget released by DBM to the agency, the DOH, by far, was able to disburse P64 billion.
Meanwhile, to immediately solve bottlenecks in releasing the remaining unpaid HEA claims, mostly from private hospitals and local government units (LGUs), Secretary Pangandaman suggested that the DOH considers the use of a blanket memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and private organizations.
“Una po, baka puwedeng, para po ma-resolba ang bottleneck, ‘yung tinatawag po na MOA na ginagawa nila, baka pwedeng blanket MOA na lang po siya sa lahat ng mga private organizations tsaka sa mga LGUs. Maybe that can be done through DILG. Kasi organized naman po ‘yung mga healthcare workers natin. Tapos tanggapin po nila ‘yung hardcopy para makarating na ‘yung dokumento sa DOH, and then siguro maglagay din po sila ng mga tao sa digital system nila para maging mas maayos.”
While HEA mapping is currently being finalized by DOH, Secretary Pangandaman assured that our healthcare workers will be able to get their unpaid benefits.
“Gayunpaman po, we assure our healthcare workers that we will continue to act on the matter. Gusto po ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na mai-settle na ng gobyerno sa lalong madaling panahon ang unpaid HEA claims ng ating mga healthcare workers. Kaya naman po, patuloy pong magbibigay ang DBM ng kinakailangang suporta at gabay, lalo na sa DOH, para masigurong maibibigay po ang mga benepisyo na nararapat para sa ating mga health workers. After all, hindi po matatawaran ang sakripisyo, pagod, at pag-aalaga nila sa atin lalo na noong kasagsagan ng pandemya,” Secretary Pangandaman said.
