• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More than P202.8 million of health emergency allowances (HEA) intended for payment to health personnel and staff of nine district hospitals managed by the provincial government of Negros Occidental, who rendered services during the COVID-19 pandemic period, is yet to be released by the Department of Health Western VIsayas.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan disclosed that the P202,837,312.50 claims of the health workers had already been submitted to the DOH.
Dr. Adriano Suba-an, DOH regional director for Western Visayas, cannot be reached for comment, as of yesterday.
On Thursday, Randy Peacita, president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE), disclosed that DOH Western Visayas has not yet downloaded the budget for the HEA of the hospital personnel of Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, and district hospitals in Cadiz, Valladolid, La Carlota, Himamaylan, Isabela, Kabankalan, Hinobaan, and Sipalay.
The unclaimed HEA covers the periods from August to December 2021, and January to July 2023.
As stipulated in the provisions of RA 11712, health workers assigned in high risk medical facilities, such as Cadiz District Hospital, which was designated as the COVID hospital in Negros Occidental, are entitled to receive P9,000 HEA for every month, P6,000 for medium risk areas, and P3,000 for low risk areas.*
