• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Health Undersecretary Mary Ann Maestral said that “the ball is now in the hands of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)” on the issue of the P202.8 million health emergency allowances (HEA) intended for payment to health personnel and staff of nine district hospitals managed by the provincial government of Negros Occidental, who rendered services during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Maestral said Wednesday. Dec. 4, that she was told by Dr. Adriano Suba-an, DOH regional director for Western Visayas, that all the needed and required documents have been complied with.
“What we are waiting now is when the money will be downloaded,” Maestral said, as she admitted of even soliciting help from solons and PhilHealth for the DBM to release the HEA for Negros Occidental health workers.
This issue is nationwide, not just for Negros Occidental, she added.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan said that the P202,837,312.50 claims of the health workers had been submitted to the DOH.
The unclaimed HEA covers the periods from August to December 2021, and January to July 2023.
“This not just HEA, but also other budget of DOH,” Maestral said.
She also dismissed as “fake news” the reports that the HEA of health workers will be returned to the national treasurer once it will not be downloaded by year end.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental supervises the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, and district hospitals in Cadiz, Valladolid, La Carlota, Himamaylan, Isabela, Kabankalan, Hinobaan, and Sipalay.
As stipulated in the provisions of RA 11712, health workers assigned in high risk medical facilities, such as Cadiz District Hospital, which was designated as the COVID hospital in Negros Occidental, are entitled to receive P9,000 HEA for every month, P6,000 for medium risk areas, and P3,000 for low risk areas. | GB
