• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Health workers of nine hospitals managed by the provincial government of Negros Occidental have yet to receive their health emergency allowance (HEA) from the Department of Health (DOH).
Randy Peacita, president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE), said yesterday that DOH Western Visayas has not yet downloaded the HEA budget for Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City as well as the district hospitals in Cadiz, Valladolid, La Carlota, Himamaylan, Isabela, Kabankalan, Hinobaan and Sipalay.
The unclaimed HEA covers the period August to December 2021 and January to July 2023.
At the TLJPH alone, there are more or less 600 health workers.
Peacita said that personnel of the Provincial Health Office and local government-managed hospitals, such as the Alfredo Marañon Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Sagay City, has already received their HEA.
The provincial government has already turned over the management of Dr. Vicente Gustilo Memorial Hospital to the Escalante city government as well as the Calatrava Municipal Hospital to the concerned local government unit.
As stipulated in the provisions of Republic Act 11712, those health workers assigned in high risk medical facilities such as the Cadiz District Hospital, which was designated as the COVID-19 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
