Treasure Hunters' Resolve Overcoming Challenges in Complete Payment to Health Workers

Title Treasure Hunters' Resolve Overcoming Challenges in Complete Payment to Health Workers

As professionals in the treasure hunting industry, we recognize the value of perseverance and determination in overcoming obstacles. Similarly, healthcare workers have faced unique challenges in receiving their rightful compensation for services rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this blog post, we will delve into the complexities surrounding the payment of health emergency allowance (HEA) to healthcare professionals and explore solutions to overcome these hurdles.

Background

As reported by Senator Bong Go, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Health (DOH) are struggling to settle the unpaid balance of HEA for healthcare workers. The situation is far from ideal, with only about 10 percent of the allocated P27 billion pending disbursement due to documentation issues.

The Issue at Hand

Senator Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, emphasized that Republic Act 11712 mandates a complete release of the stipend, citing both moral and financial obligations to compensate healthcare workers for their services. However, the DOH's request for an additional P5 billion in October 2023 was denied due to budget constraints.

To make matters worse, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s veto of the P2.5 billion allocation for HEA in the 2025 budget has left health care workers feeling livid and frustrated.

Moving Forward

As professionals in the treasure hunting industry, we understand that overcoming challenges requires a clear-headed approach. To resolve this issue, we propose the following solutions

1. Streamline Documentation Implement efficient and transparent processes for tracking and verifying HEA claims to address documentation issues.
2. Increase Budget Allocation Allocate additional funds to cover new claims, ensuring that healthcare workers receive their rightful compensation in a timely manner.
3. Prioritize Healthcare Workers' Compensation Emphasize the importance of prioritizing healthcare workers' compensation as a moral obligation to those who have served during the pandemic.

Conclusion

As treasure hunters, we understand that overcoming challenges requires perseverance and determination. In this case, it is essential for both the DBM and DOH to work together to resolve the issue of HEA payment. By streamlining documentation, increasing budget allocation, and prioritizing healthcare workers' compensation, we can ensure that these dedicated professionals receive their rightful compensation in a timely manner.

Keywords Health emergency allowance (HEA), healthcare workers, COVID-19 pandemic, DBM, DOH, Senate Committee on Health, Republic Act 11712.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.