HCWs in Egay-hit areas to get COVID-19 allowance first

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health would prioritize the release of unpaid COVID-19 allowances to health care workers (HCWs) in areas badly hit by Typhoon Egay, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa said yesterday.

He said he had instructed the Human Health Resources Office to first concentrate in Ilocos region and Cagayan Valley in speeding up the release of the health emergency allowance (HEA).

“I’ll ask them to concentrate in Regions 1 and 2 that have been hit by Egay so health workers there will have additional funds to be used for emergency purposes,” Herbosa said in an interview.

He added that the HEA of HCWs in the Bicol region, particularly Albay, would also be immediately taken care of.

Herbosa hopes that the DOH will be able to complete the distribution of unpaid allowances next year.

“I gave instruction to find another way to hasten the process of distribution. What will happen is that once your name is submitted to us, we will be putting it in an ATM where you can actually withdraw the money from,” he said.

He added, “It will now be given directly to the health worker. It will not pass through a bureaucratic process anymore. The idea is to hasten and make it faster and get it to them by the end of the year.”

The health official said those who will not be able to receive it this year will receive it next year because it is in the National Expenditure Program.

“Hopefully, we will be able to pay arrears of 2021, 2022 and 2023 of the health workers with the goal of completing payment by 2024. It could be a bit slow but we will give it to them,” Herbosa said.