DoH urged not to divert allowances for health workers
ANAKALUSUGAN Party-list Representative Mike Defensor reminded the Department of Health (DoH) not to divert to other purposes the allowances intended for health workers.
Defensor said under the Bayanihan 2 Law, the allowances of health workers amounting to millions should not be used for other programs.
He made the statement in reaction to complaints that almost P36 million in allowances of personnel of the Philippine Orthopedic Center in Quezon City have been “repurposed” and spent for “Covid-19-related activities or responses.”
“The DOH cannot do that. The law grants our health workers additional hazard pay, a special risk allowance and other benefits that should be given to them. They will be violating the law if they use funds for these benefits for other things,” he said.
Under Bayanihan 2, Defensor stressed that there are funds separately allocated for pandemic response interventions like the procurement of protective personal equipment.
He added that the law allocates a total of P13.5 billion to the DOH for health workers’ allowances and other benefits, including meals and accommodation, and other pandemic response measures.
He then asked the DOH to look for funds to pay the additional emoluments of personnel of the orthopedic hospital.
“The DOH and government hospitals should give these benefits to our health workers in cash, instead of giving them in the form of food items like rice and groceries,” Defensor said.
He said these employees would have the flexibility on spending their money if they receive cash.
“This month of June is school enrollment period. They might want to use their money for their children’s tuition and other fees, or for uniform and school supplies. Let’s give them that leeway. It’s their money in the first place,” he said.
Defensor has received complaints that some specialty hospitals in Quezon City were converting their health workers’ allowances into food items, instead of giving them in cash.
