Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, on Monday, September 1, thanked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for its commitment to release the outstanding PhP 6.77 billion in Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) claims of qualified healthcare workers during the Senate briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 National Expenditure Program.
“Salamat sa DBM. Nagkaroon po ng pag-asa ang ating healthcare workers,” a happy Go said.
Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman confirmed the release of PhP 6.77 billion in HEA claims on September 1 when asked by Senator Go.
“Ito iyung appeals ng mga na-engganyo sila mag-claim dahil na release po yung PhP 27 billion noong 2024,” Go said.
To recall, Senator Go presided over numerous Senate Health Committee hearings, where he asked the DBM and the Department of Health (DOH) to find ways to settle the pending HEA due to health workers for services rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sulit ang pangungulit,” Go said briefly, stressing that these payments are long overdue for services already rendered as mandated by law.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Go emphasized that addressing these unpaid allowances should take precedence over other programs, as they compensate healthcare workers for services they have already rendered.
“Services rendered po ito. Pinagpawisan po ito ng ating mga health workers. Pinaghirapan nila,” Go, who consistently pursued the payment of HEA, explained.
The HEA, mandated under RA 11712 or the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act, provides financial compensation to healthcare workers in both public and private sectors who served during a public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senator Go, as one of the law’s authors and co-sponsors, has repeatedly pushed for its proper implementation, ensuring that eligible beneficiaries receive their due benefits.
Despite the official lifting of the public health emergency in 2023, a backlog of claims remained unresolved, affecting thousands of frontliners.
The lawmaker added that the HEA is a small amount compared to the sacrifices and services of our healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Maliit na halaga ito kumpara sa sakripisyo at serbisyo ng ating mga healthcare workers during the pandemic. Tinutukan natin ito noong nakaraang Kongreso at in fact, nagkaroon tayo ng 14 hearings para kalampagin ang ang DOH at DBM,” Go said.
Go vowed to prioritize the provisions of equitable benefits for all healthcare workers. The legislator is one of the authors and co-sponsors of the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) last Congress and vowed he will continue to advocate for the passage of the said bill to upgrade the compensation of the BHWs.
