The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WVCHD) has already released over P5.98 billion of health emergency allowance (HEA) to health workers who served at the height of the pandemic.

WVCHD Administrative Officer V and human resources in-charge Genevieve Cadornigara said during the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” briefing on Tuesday, July 2, that the amount is around 99.96 percent of the allocation for the region.

The HEA covers services rendered from July 2021 to July 2023, or 25 months.

“The health emergency allowance is based on the risk classification of health workers. They may be low risk, moderate risk or high risk. The identification of the risk classification of each health care worker is dependent on their facilities for both public and private facilities,” she said.

She said there are still facilities that are yet to receive their allowance since the regional office is still waiting for the fund release from the central office.

“As of this moment, there are 19 health facilities where we have released a complete 25-month HEA,” Cadornigara said.

WVCHD regional director Adriano Suba-an said the HEA cannot be regarded as a measure of the “hardships and challenges faced by our modern-day heroes.”

“We owe an endless gratitude to them,” he said.

Suba-an assured that once the funds are available, the regional office will immediately release the HEA of the remaining health workers. (PNA)