The Department of Health (DOH) has so far released over P680 million for the special risk allowance (SRA) of health workers in Western Visayas (WV).
According to Cristine C. Abuzo, Accountant III of the DOH-6, the regional office has already transferred to the local government units (LGUs) and private hospitals the fund amounting to P462.064 million from September to December 2020 and another P221.733 million from December 2020 to April 30, 2021.
Without specifying the exact number, Abuzo said there are hundreds of recipients of the said SRA and hazard pay in the region.
The grant of the COVID-19 SRA is stipulated in Joint Circular No. 2 series of 2020 of the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). It covers both public and private health workers who are directly catering to or are in contact with COVID-19 patients.
The DOH allocated the corresponding amount for SRA based on the list of eligible health workers submitted by the head of office — whether hospital or LGU.
Meanwhile, Genevieve A. Cadornigara, DOH-6’s Human Resource Management Officer, said the regional office is the one facilitating and processing the release of the SRA to the recipient health facilities or LGU and their personnel.
“As long as nakumpleto ang documents such as the Memorandum of Agreement, the list of eligible healthcare workers and the SB Resolution if it came from local government units, the DOH-6 naga-facilitate kag ginaproseso nga ma-release sa recipient nga hospitals and LGUs ang SRA,” Cadornigara explained.
She assured that as long as the documents are complete, the regional office is immediately processing the release of SRA to the recipients.
DOH-6 director, Dr. Adriano Suba-an, earlier acknowledged the various concerns of healthcare workers, particularly about SRA.
He explained that the grant of SRA not exceeding P5,000 per month is in recognition of the health workers’ heroic and invaluable contributions by being at the forefront of the national effort to address this COVID-19 pandemic.
As to the said delays, Suba-an explained said these are maybe due to the late submission of documentary requirements from LGUs and other health facilities to facilitate the transfer of funds and the actual payment./WDJ