Gov’t allocates ₱20 B for health workers’ benefits

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the government has set aside about ₱20 billion to cover the benefits and allowances of healthcare and non-healthcare professionals for next year.

In a statement on Thursday, Nov. 16, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said that the Marcos administration is committed to providing ongoing financial assistance to the healthcare sector.

As a result, Pangandaman said ₱19.96 billion has been allocated specifically for the settlement of their benefits and allowances in 2024.

“As directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we shall sustain our efforts in strengthening government healthcare services,” Pangandaman said. “And this involves providing our healthcare workers, our heroes, with needed and continued support, including their allowances and compensation.”

The allocated budget guarantees that both healthcare and non-healthcare workers in the country will continue to receive appropriate compensation, even with the lifting of the state of public health emergency nationwide.

Under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA), a sum of ₱19.962 billion has been set aside for the sector’s benefits and allowances purpose.

This allocation covers the payment of outstanding dues from 2020 and can also be utilized for addressing any future declarations of public health emergencies of national magnitude.

This amount was already part of the 2023 Comprehensively Released Items of the Department of Health (DOH) per National Budget Circular No. 590.

Last Oct. 13, the DBM released an additional ₱4 billion to DOH, chargeable against Unprogrammed Appropriations for the same purpose. The release is limited to the available amount certified by the Bureau of the Treasury.

According to the latest Financial Accountability Report submitted by the DOH, ₱20.983 billion has already been obligated as of Oct. 31, 2023, leaving an available balance of ₱3.318 billion.