CAGAYAN de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez today said the Department of Health (DOH) Region 10 has endorsed to health Secretary Francisco Duque III the list of recipients from the city who will be receiving the long-delayed Special Risk Allowance (SRA).

Rodriguez said the long-delayed SRA will receive by the city’s Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS).

Over a phone call, DOH 10 Regional Director Boy Llacuna has informed deputy speaker Rodriguez that the names of BHWs and BNS were already sent to the DOH Central Office last Friday.

Earlier, the hearing of House Committee on Public Accounts last August 27 on COA’s findings on DOH’s Covid-19 funds for 2020, Rodriguez secured the commitment of Duque that the BHWs and BNS in CDO who are embedded in the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTS) who directly catered to or in contact with Covid-19 patients will be paid the SRA as provided for by the Bayanihan 2.

On Tuesday, Rodriguez made a follow-up letter to Duque as regards the downloading of P11 Million as payment for the 742 BHWs and 249 BNS from CDO listed by RD Llacuna for the period January 2021 to June 30, 2021.

In the same letter, Rodriguez asked Duque regarding the status of meals, accommodation, and transportation (MAT) allowance of health care workers (HWCs) in public and private hospitals in CDO including BHWs and BNS who are exposed to Covid-19 patients.

Rodriguez secured a commitment from the DOH that it will request funds from the DBM for the release of this MAT benefit.

“There is a need to fast-track the payments for SRA and MAT to our HCWs, BHWs, and BNS. This has been much delayed,” said Rodriguez adding that no amount of excuse can suffice for the late or non-payment because the law on Bayanihan 2 is very clear they are entitled to such benefits.

“I am thankful to Sec. Duque and RD Boy Llacuna that right after the series of hearings last week, the SRA of HCWs in CDO amounting to P33 Million has been released,” he said.

Now, I urge them to expedite the SRA for our BHWs and BNS and the MAT for all HCWs, BHWs and BNS in CDO,” according to Rodriguez.

In his pre-recorded public address on August 20, President Rodrigo Duterte gave 10 days to DOH and DBM to pay all benefits of health workers in the country. This reaffirms the earlier call of Rodriguez that all benefits for medical workers be immediately paid as required by law. (PR)