Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman underscores the importance of healthcare workers and pledges her dedication to ensuring that arrears of the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) are fulfilled by the end of 2025 during the public hearing and inquiry of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

“Priority po namin kayo [healthcare workers]. Ang HEA po ay nasa SONA (State of the Nation Address) ng ating Pangulo. Tuwing nagkikita po kami ay pinapaalala po niya 'yan. Ang promise ko po, by 2025, mababayaran po natin 'yan,” stated Sec. Pangandaman.

To date, the DBM has disbursed a total of P91.283 billion to DOH for the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA), covering all benefits for healthcare workers from 2021 to 2023. Of this amount, P73.261 billion has been allocated specifically for HEA.

PHEBA includes Special Risk Allowance (SRA), compensation for COVID-19 sickness and death, as well as additional benefits like meals, accommodation, and transportation allowances for healthcare workers.

During the session, Secretary Pangandaman outlined the DBM’s strategy to tackle the remaining P27.7 billion arrears for the HEA, which was presented by the DOH during a technical budget hearing held earlier this month. The first step involves utilizing a P2.3 billion unprogrammed appropriations (UA) fund, contingent upon the collection of excess revenue.