The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) welcomed the ₱6.767 billion disbursement from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for long-overdue Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA), but made it clear that gratitude is not on the table.
“While this release is long overdue, we cannot ignore the fact that our health workers have been waiting for years since 2021, for what is rightfully theirs,” AHW declared, calling out the government’s chronic delays in compensating frontline workers who risked, and in many cases, lost their lives during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The newly released funds, sourced from unprogrammed appropriations, bypassed Congressional scrutiny, raising red flags for AHW.
“Once again, the release comes from the unprogrammed appropriations fund, which bypasses through Congressional deliberation and has long been mired in anomalies just like the ₱27 billion Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) funds that were sourced from the questionable transfer of PhilHealth funds,” the group stated.
AHW condemned the systemic neglect of health workers, contrasting the sluggish release of benefits with the rapid misuse of public funds.
“The benefits and welfare of health workers are always delayed, while billions of pesos are swiftly corrupted and wasted on projects like flood control. This is a clear injustice against those who serve the people’s health.”
“These benefits are not a favor from government but a recognition of the sacrifices and dedication of health workers who kept the health system afloat at the peak of the crisis,” AHW emphasized, rejecting any narrative that frames the release as benevolence.
Despite DBM’s claim of ₱121.3 billion released for PHEBA and other allowances in 2024, AHW pointed out that “many health workers on the ground have yet to receive their full benefits.”
The group blamed bureaucratic red tape within the Department of Health (DOH) for the ongoing hardship and frustration.
AHW is now demanding “the immediate and full distribution of the newly released ₱6.7 billion without further delays,” and is calling for “transparency and accountability from the DOH and DBM on the status of all pending claims.”
They also reminded the public that health workers are still waiting for their Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) from 2021 to 2023. “How much longer will health workers have to wait AGAIN before these rightful benefits are finally released?” the group asked.
“We, health workers, have given more than enough—our time, energy, and even our lives—to serve the Filipino people,” AHW concluded. “We will not stop asserting our rights and welfare, and we will continue to fight for a truly free and accessible health service for all.” (JCNE)
