Nursing News

DOH wants quick disbursement of funds for payment of OCA and SRA

The Department of Health (DOH) will be facilitating the immediate processing of the Php 1.04 Billion and Php 11.5 Billion released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on October 3, 2022 and October 5, 2022, respectively.

The DBM release of Php 1.04 billion is for the payment of the remaining 55,211 unpaid Special Risk Allowance (SRA) for eligible healthcare workers and eligible non-healthcare workers for the period of September 2020 to June 2021. Meanwhile, the Php 11.5 Billion will be processed by the DOH for the payment of 1,617,660 unpaid Health Emergency Allowance (HEA)/One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA) covering January 2022 to June 2022.

Currently, the Department is preparing the sub-allotment guidelines and has simultaneously informed regional counterparts at the Centers for Health Development (CHDs) to prepare the necessary paperwork and documents for an expedited and quick disbursement of the released funds.

Additional funding is also needed to cover for services rendered from July 2021 to present pursuant to Republic Act No. 11712 otherwise known as the “Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act”.

The DOH will exhaust all efforts to expedite the process of transferring these funds to our implementing units and facilities for the immediate release to all eligible HCWs.

“Our healthcare workers are the backbone of our healthcare system, and it is incumbent upon us to ensure that they are protected through fair compensation and benefits. We thank the DBM for releasing these funds, and we pledge to expend all our efforts to compensate our dear healthcare workers for their unwavering service to every Juan and Juana during this pandemic.” said Officer-in-Charge Secretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire.