99% of P311-M for SRA downloaded to health facilities: DOH

MANILA – About 99 percent of the PHP311 million special risk allowance (SRA) for 20,208 eligible healthcare workers (HCWs) has been downloaded to the healthcare facilities for processing and distribution, the Department of Health said Thursday.

In a statement, Health Undersecretary for Administration and Financial Management Leopoldo Vega said this is an additional fund to the PHP7 billion budget the national government earlier allotted for the SRA of 379,117 HCWs from December 2020 up to June 30 this year.

“Tandaan po lamang natin na ang SRA ay kailangan ring iproseso ng mga public at private health facilities upang makuha ng ating mga (Let’s be reminded that the SRA must be processed by the public and private health facilities) healthcare workers,” Vega said.

“Ang PHP311 milyon ay para sa first batch ng mga eligible healthcare workers na hindi pa nakatatanggap ng kanilang SRA, dagdag sa mga una na nating nabigyan (The PHP311 million is for the first batch of eligible healthcare workers who haven’t received their SRA, in addition to those who first received theirs),” he added.

The DOH has requested an additional budget for the SRA of the next batch of healthcare workers from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Meantime, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the DOH has coordinated with the DBM on the release of a new policy for the meal, accommodation and transportation allowance.

“Makakaasa po kayo na bibigyan prioridad ng DOH ang karapatan ng ating mga healthcare workers upang makuha nila benepisyo na dapat nilang makuha ng naaayon sa ating batas (You can be assured that the DOH prioritizes the rights of healthcare workers so they will receive their benefits according to law),” Duque said.