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The Department of Health (DOH) to utilize P311 million contingency fund to pay the special risk allowance of 20,156 health care workers of both public and private hospitals.

DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press conference, that the amount is not yet final as we still need to wait for the final list that will be submitted to us by our regional offices and facilities so that we can come up with a final number and the final amount that we need.

“We can source it out from our contingency fund to which the [Department of Budget and Management] already has the approval from the Office of the President,” Vergeire added.

Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III claimed that a specific provision of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, restricts the payment of benefits to frontliners not directly involved with COVID-19 patients. However, lawmakers pointed out that said provision should be interpreted more broadly because all frontliners run the risk of getting exposed to the coronavirus.

Duque also previously blamed private hospitals for the delayed release of monetary benefits to health workers, however medical frontliners refuted his claim.

In a statement released on Monday, DOH said that Duque and Administration and Financial Management Team Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega are leading DOH offices and operating units to fast track the provision of Special Risk Allowance (SRA) to more healthcare workers.

“DOH offices and operating units are now working double time to comply with the COA audit findings within 60 days or less. Gaya ng sinabi ko noon, bukas na bukas po ang aming tanggapan upang makipagtulungan sa COA upang mapabuti pa ang aming mga proseso at mapagsilbihan ng mas mabuti ang ating mga kababayan,” said Duque.