The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released PHP6.767 billion to cover the payment of Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA) for medical frontliners and non-healthcare workers who served during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the release, which will cover 1,411,546 PHEBA claims from 2021 to 2023 across local government units, private health facilities, state universities, and other institutions nationwide.
The funding was sourced from the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) under the Unprogrammed Appropriations of the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the DBM said.
Pangandaman emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting healthcare workers, noting that the DBM had previously released a total of PHP121.325 billion for various COVID-19 benefits, including the Special Risk Allowance (SRA), Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) or One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA), sickness and death compensation, and other allowances such as meals, accommodation, and transportation.
“Kung matatandaan n’yo po, July last year, nag-release na po tayo ng higit PHP27 billion para ma-cover ang idineklara ng DOH na balanse sa HEA. Suma-total, last year, higit PHP121 billion na po ang ini-release ng DBM para mabayaran ‘yung PHEBA ng ating mga healthcare and non-healthcare workers,” Pangandaman said.
She added that this latest fund release is in line with the updated Department of Health (DOH) request for additional support and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize healthcare workers’ welfare.
“This latest release po, amounting to PHP6.767 billion is in line with the updated request of DOH. Alinsunod din po ito sa utos ng ating Pangulo na ‘wag pabayaan ang ating mga health workers,” she said.
Pangandaman urged the DOH to expedite the distribution of the benefits to ensure that healthcare and non-healthcare workers receive their allowances without further delay.