• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is eyeing the granting of P7,000 medical allowance to each government employee, by the national government, for payment to premiums of health insurance.
This was disclosed yesterday by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, as he wanted to ensure that the funds will go toward its intended purpose.
The annual medical allowance will be given to qualified civilian government personnel as a subsidy to avail of health maintenance organization (HMO)-type benefits, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman disclosed earlier.
By paying health insurance premiums, Lacson said Capitol employees will have bigger medical coverage.
“If I give you P7,000, do you think you’ll use it for medicines?” the governor asked.
Lacson, however, said he will first sit down with the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE), which represents the provincial government employees.
The DBM circular covers all civilian government personnel in the national government agencies, including state universities and colleges and government-owned and controlled corporations not covered by Republic Act 10149 and EO 150, s. 2021.
The grant is in line with Executive Order (EO) 64 s. 2024, which also prescribed the salary increase for government personnel, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Aug. 2, 2024.
All government workers, regardless of appointment status, whether regular, casual, or contractual; appointive or elective; and on a full-time or part-time basis, are eligible for the medical grant.
Employees in the local government units and local water districts are also covered.
Capitol employees are also covered by the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Care Program.
“We pretty much cover the medical needs of our employees,” Lacson added.*
