The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said that the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the P311 million-worth of Special Risk Allowance (SRA) has now been downloaded to its Centers for Health Development (CHDs). The said funds will benefit additional 20,208 healthcare workers.

These funds transferred to the CHDs will then be released to their respective local government units and private health facilities in the next few days. The 311M is the first batch of fund transfers for the grant of SRA to hospitals and health facilities that have earlier submitted an additional list of eligible healthcare workers.

“Naibigay na po ng DBM ang paunang request na 311 million pesos para sa SRA ng 20,208 na healthcare workers. Huwag po kayong mag-alala at madadagdagan pa itong bilang ng mga healthcare workers na makakatanggap ng SRA sapagkat kasalukuyan tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang LGU at private hospitals sa pamamagitan ng ating mga CHD, upang makalap ang bilang ng health workers na marapat pang makatanggap ng SRA. Nakikiusap po kami na ang mga ospital at health facilities ay makipagtulungan sa kani-kanilang mga CHD upang makapag-submit ng kanilang mga requirements. Ang ating Centers for Health Development naman ay handa pong gabayan kayo. Magtulungan po tayo dito,” said Administration and Financial Management Head Undersecretary of Health Leopoldo Vega.

The DOH added that from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic it has supported healthcare workers to receive SRA and it will continue to do so.

Further, the DOH through its CHDs have already coordinated with public and private hospitals to submit their lists of eligible HCWs who are yet to receive the SRA until today, so as to allow the DOH to comply with requirements to facilitate the requests of additional funding from the DBM. The DOH has likewise instructed CHDs to conduct town hall sessions with hospital management and healthcare workers on SRA processing.

Nonetheless, the DOH recognizes the need to further improve inter-agency coordination and streamline processes among its operating units to ensure efficiency in providing benefits for our frontliners who have worked tirelessly to keep Filipinos safe.