DBM: No cut in benefits for public health workers

By Nephele Fabiola S. Kirong

Monday 11th of June 2012

QUEZON CITY, June 11 (PIA) -- Budget and Management secretary Florencio Abad said today that Magna Carta benefits for public health workers were not slashed down.

He said the benefits for the workers receive appropriate budgetary support under the FY 2012 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

According to him, the administration admires the work done by public health employees especially those assigned in far-flung, rural and hazardous areas.

“It is for this reason that the GAA provides P348.1 million for the magna carta benefits of all public health employees, which the DBM has already released to the Department of Health (DOH) early this year,” he said.

Abad said the appropriation covers the grants for monthly laundry allowance of P125 and daily subsistence pay of P30 for public health workers under the DOH.

The budget chief added that they are now working closely with the health department to address issues in the grant of the benefits, emphasizing that there is a need to balance the clamor of public health workers, the limited government resources and the enforcement of rules covering the use of the funds.

Magna Carta benefits in the past, he noted, were prone to abuse because it was released before the DOH could ascertain its end of the year savings.

“Ultimately, we need to streamline the implementation of these benefits. For one, only those who are entitled to these—those exposed to real risks—should receive the corresponding hazard pay," Abad said. "Additionally, only actual working days should be accounted for when calculating the subsistence allowance. We intend to issue a Joint Circular on this with the proper lead agencies.” (DBM/NFK/PIA-GHQ)