House probe sought on delay in release of health workers’ SRA

MANILA – A party-list lawmaker has filed a resolution calling for a congressional inquiry into the institutional and administrative impediments preventing the timely release of the Special Risk Allowance (SRA) for health workers.

In filing House Resolution 2102 on Aug. 9, Ang Probinsyano Rep. Alfred Delos Santos said around PHP9 billion worth of funds for the health workers have either not reached the recipients or were disbursed in insufficient amounts.

Delos Santos said public and private healthcare workers were provided more benefits to compensate for their “critical and urgent services in the frontlines at the time of public health emergency”.

He cited the provision under Section 4 of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act: “Ensure that all public health workers are protected by providing them with a ‘Covid-19 special risk allowance (SRA)’ in addition to hazard pay granted under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers of Republic Act No. 7305”.

“The SRA is a testament that the government is acknowledging the importance and sacrifice of our health care workers in our fight against Covid-19. This is especially needed as the Delta variant is currently posing serious threats to our health care workers, as hospitals are again reaching full capacity with the latest average daily Covid-19 hitting 8,747 new cases per day as of August 2-8, 2021,” Delos Santos said.

He noted that there have been many complaints of not just delayed releases of the SRA and other benefits for healthcare workers, but also discrepancies in the actual amounts released to different healthcare workers.

“Amidst the chaos and fear of pandemic, the health workers and their perseverance in doing what needs to be done and giving their entire security to save lives have greatly benefited many Filipinos and this nation especially in these times of uncertainty,” Delos Santos said.

He said fair compensation for their hard work should be given in a timely and transparent manner devoid of administrative discretions.

“No amount of monetary compensation is ever enough to fully compensate for the risks associated through this pandemic and the sacrifices our health workers must endure to carry out their responsibilities, it is only right that we give them proper benefits,” he said.