The MAT benefits were originally intended to be provided in-kind or as actual services. However, health facilities that were not able to disburse the originally allotted amounts for such purpose, and opted to return the unspent funds to the DOH before 2020 ended, to prevent reversion of funds to the Treasury. These funds, in turn, were used by the DOH to support other requirements for the pandemic response.
Recognizing that a number of healthcare workers have not been able to receive the MAT benefits, DOH has made representation to the Office of the President (OP) and on December 03, 2021, the OP issued a memorandum approving the DOH’s request for modification in the allotment of funds, from the Presidential Contingent Fund initially released to DOH for procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to cover the provision of MAT benefits in the form of its cash equivalent to HCWs that have yet to receive the said benefits covering the period September 15 to December 19, 2020.
Ang orihinal na MAT benefits ay nakaplanong ibigay bilang in-kind o aktwal na mga serbisyo. Subalit, ang mga health facilities ay hindi nakapag-disburse ng nakatalagang halaga para rito, at pinagdesisyunang ibalik ang mga hindi nagamit na pondo sa DOH bago natapos ang 2020 para maiwasan ang reversion ng mga pondo sa Treasury. Ang mga pondong ito ay ginamit na lang ng DOH upang suportahan ang ibang requirements para sa pandemic response.
Sa pagkilala na maraming healthcare workers ang hindi nakakuha ng kanilang MAT benefits, gumawa ng pagkatawan ang DOH sa Office of the President (OP) at noong December 03, 2021, nag-issue ang OP ng memorandum na nagaapruuba sa request ng DOH na magbago ang allotment ng pondo, mula sa Presidential Contingent Fund na ini-release sa DOH para sa procurement ng COVID-19 vaccines upang ma-cover ang probisyon ng MAT benefits sa anyo ng cash equivalent para sa HCWs na makakatanggap pa lang ng mga benepisyong sumasaklaw mula Setyember 15 hanggang Disyember 19, 2020.