The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Friday (Sept. 3) released more than P800 million for the special risk allowance (SRA) funds of health workers.
A total of P888.12 million was released to fund the SRA of eligible public and private healthcare workers (HCWs) who are directly catering to or are in contact with COVID-19 patients for the period of Dec. 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
The SRA funds were directly charged from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund and Unprogrammed Appropriations under the Financial Year (FY) 2021 General Appropriations Act, the DBM said in a statement.
“With this, the total additional funds released by the DBM for the SRA pursuant to Administrative Order No. 42 as of date have reached P1.2 billion,” it said.
According to the department, an additional amount of P407.08 million will be charged against the FY 2021 Contingent Fund to complete the SRAs for an estimated 117,926 HCWs not to exceed P5,000 per month for the covered period.
“Rest assured that the DBM will facilitate the prompt release of the funds for the SRA to ensure that all eligible HCWs will receive their rightful benefits,” it said. –Report from Louisa Erispe/PG – bny
