The Department of Health (DOH) admitted that it hasn’t finished the distribution of the meal accommodation and transportation (MAT) allowance for health workers across the Philippines.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire shared with CNN Philippines that the DOH has already asked for additional funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). However, several hospitals from different regions have failed to submit the list of their beneficiaries from their health force.
“We are just completing the list. We have been able to download already most of the funds to our regional offices to provide to our facilities within their jurisdiction,” Vergeire said.
“We just need to complete the list kasi may mga additional pong binibigay ang mga hospital sa ngayon,” she said.
“We had an initial list which we thought was complete already but then again, our facilities have been submitting piece-meal, paisa isa,” she noted.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier requested President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order that would release the MAT allowance of health workers who failed to receive their benefits, since the allowances were part of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act which already expired months ago.
Around ₱2.51 billion is needed for 423,000 health workers’ allowance for the period of Sept. 15, 2020 to Dec. 19, 2020. Each employee will receive ₱2,000 per month. Ronald Espartinez