Philippines Health Workers Return to Senate for Delayed Emergency Allowance

Barangay health workers (BHWs) and private healthcare workers recently returned to the Senate to press for the immediate release of their long-overdue Health Emergency Allowance (HEA). Frustration among these frontline workers has been mounting, as many have waited for more than a year without receiving the compensation promised to them for their crucial services during the pandemic.

Senator Bong Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, stressed the urgency of releasing the overdue Health Emergency Allowance (HEA), questioning the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the delay. In response, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman clarified that the agency had already fulfilled its obligations by releasing over P27 billion requested by the DOH under a Special Allotment Release Order in July 2024 to cover the payment for eligible healthcare workers.

Richie Ronald Ignacio, a health worker from Ugnayang Nagkakaisang Manggagawa – UST Hospital (UNM-USTH), highlighted the struggles faced by private healthcare workers. “We still haven’t received our HEA. The HEA dashboard in many hospitals barely shows any progress.” Ignacio also pointed out that several healthcare facilities have been waiting for over 18 months to receive their allowances.

Myrna Gaite, President of the Barangay Health Workers Federation – National Capital Region, revealed that many BHWs across the country are still awaiting their HEA. “Many of our colleagues have already passed away without receiving anything. What’s even more painful is that some BHWs were excluded by their LGUs from the list of HEA beneficiaries despite having served during the crisis. We served our communities, where is the compensation for our service?”

DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa assured that the DOH has already received the budget allotment from DBM and promised that all funds would be released by October 2024. DOH Undersecretary Achilles Bravo provided an update on the fund distribution plan, “The NCA (Notice of Cash Allocation) was released to us on July 15, and we immediately sub-allotted it to our regional offices. For July, PHP 10.1 billion. For August, PHP 9.8 billion. September, PHP 4.06 billion. And the balance by October, PHP 2.9 billion.”

The DOH also addressed the process for health workers contesting their HEA status, explaining that regional ad hoc grievance boards have been established to handle complaints and resolve disputes regarding eligibility and the amounts owed.

Rajendra Acharya, UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Secretary, welcomed these developments but cautioned that the work is far from over. “While we are encouraged by the progress in fund allocation, UNI will continue to work closely with our barangay health workers and private healthcare workers to monitor the situation until every eligible worker receives their rightful compensation.”

This initiative is backed by UNI Global Union through Together We Care, a groundbreaking initiative to enhance women’s economic security by fostering a skilled, empowered workforce in the health and care sectors supported by USAID, the Ford Foundation and the CARE Fund.