The remaining P27-billion arrears of government for the COVID-19 health emergency allowance of healthcare workers is set to be finally released on Friday, July 5, the Department of Budget and Management announced Thursday. The DBM said that the Department of Health in May requested for the issuance of a Special Allotment Release Order and Notice of Cash Allocation amounting to P27.453 billion. The same amount was proposed by the DOH to be included in their 2025 National Expenditure Program .
Kahit sa 2025 pa ito hinihiling ng DOH, sinikap po ng DBM na mas maaga itong tuparin, dahil deserve po ito ng ating mga manggagawa sa health sector,” Pangandaman said in a statement on Thursday. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Wednesday first announced the “good news,” saying that there will no longer be an allocated budget for the HEA under the 2025 NEP as the unpaid allowance may already be released this year.