THE special risk allowance (SRA) for health workers needs to be set at P5,000 per month to avoid delays in distribution, according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
ARTA Director General Jeremiah B. Belgica said in a statement on Monday that the Department of Health should pay the fixed amount rather than having to compute the amount based on the actual work days.
The need to compute “may have hampered the distribution of the financial benefit,” Mr. Belgica said.
“I have always said that we, in the government, must show our appreciation to the heroic frontline health workers who have made countless sacrifices for us during this coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We can do this by ensuring that our health workers are adequately supported and given their due during this critical time. Delays or deductions in their SRA would be a huge disservice to them,” he added.
The ceiling for such payments is P5,000 and can be less when prorated.
Under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, all public and private health workers directly attending to or in contact with COVID-19 patients are eligible for the SRA for every month of the state of national emergency.
“Since… those who work in health institutions are equally at risk of contracting COVID-19, (we should) do away with this classification and apply the P5,000 benefit across the board,” Mr. Belgica said.
“It was found that having to compute based on days served in the hospital could cause an inequitable designation of value for work since many are giving more than what can be measured in hours and days,” he added.
Recently, the Department of Budget and Management released P1.19 billion to cover the unpaid SRA of 63,812 frontline health workers.
The funds will cover the unpaid SRA of health workers from Dec. 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
