By JEN BAYLON

Confusion and frustration continue to mount healthcare workers in the Philippines in the wake of the statements regarding the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA).

Health Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Maestral expressed her concerns about the budget allocation process for HEA.

This, after Budget Undersecretary Goddes Hope Libiran asserted that there are no outstanding debts from the Department of Budget and Management regarding HEA payments, stating they released them “in full balance last July 5, 2024, amounting to P27.453 billion.”

“Upon hearing that, I asked the PAD [Program and Administrative Division] because they are the ones processing it. They are still looking for where to source the budget,” Maestral said.

The national government is reportedly making efforts to expedite funding releases.

“[They are] trying their best. They are sitting down with the proper authorities to ensure that funds are released,” Maestral said.

This underscores a collective commitment to resolving these financial issues, but many healthcare workers remain skeptical about the timeline for receiving their allowances.

However, Maestral clarified that while some funds have been received, there remains a significant gap in disbursements.

“To clarify, we have received some. We are only lacking 12 months’ worth of allowances,” she added.

The HEA discrepancy raises questions about the efficiency of fund distribution and whether all eligible healthcare workers will receive their due compensation.

The issue of delayed payments has been a longstanding problem for healthcare professionals who served on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic./JB, WDJ