Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, last Wednesday emphasized the critical need for ample government support for Filipino healthcare workers.

He reminded the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Health, and other concerned agencies to ensure that allowances and benefits due to qualified HCWs are released in accordance with the law.

During the Senate plenary session on 8 November, Go questioned the delayed disbursement of the health emergency allowance and underscored its significance in providing immediate financial relief to healthcare frontliners.

"We passed Republic Act 11712 which grants continuing benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during public health emergencies, like Covid-19. Last July, the state of public health emergency due to Covid-19 throughout the Philippines has been lifted by President Marcos, sa kabila nito may mga healthcareworkers pa na hindi nababayaran ang kanilang HEA o health emergency allowance," he cited.

Go's inquiry is particularly relevant, given that the government has set aside a substantial amount of P19.962 billion for public health emergency benefits and allowances in the 2023 national budget, covering both healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Furthermore, an additional P52.962 billion in unprogrammed funds is allocated for the potential compensation of healthcare professionals.

Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara said that P19.6 billion has already been disbursed from the programmed funds, while an additional P4 billion has been allocated from the unprogrammed funds.

Meanwhile, Go, during the Senate plenary deliberation for the Department of Education's 2024 budget last Thursday, 9 November, expressed his support for the proposed increase in salaries of government workers, while also advocating for improved compensation and benefits for teachers, as well as budgetary support for the National Academy of Sports  in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac among others.

Go recalled that DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman mentioned during the Development Budget Coordination Committee hearing and plenary interpellations, that there is around P17 billion already earmarked for Salary Standardization Law 6 in the proposed 2024 budget. With this, government workers may hopefully expect increases in salary next year.