TACLOBAN: The Department of Health (DOH) has released at least 61.54 percent of the PHP700 million Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) allocation for healthcare workers in Eastern Visayas who helped in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The health department has identified 193,765 workers qualified to receive the benefits. 'All processing units within the office are actively working to handle HEA claims from eligible health facilities. The processing of these claims is contingent on the submission of complete documentary requirements,' DOH regional information officer Jelyn Lopez-Malibago said on Tuesday. Payments are faster for health workers employed by facilities without any pending unliquidated funds from previously transferred funds from the DOH. HEA is meant for both public and private healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers in facilities involved in the Covid-19 response. The DOH regional office facilitates the disbursement of the HEA to the local government units and private health facil ities under their jurisdiction. The Department of Budget and Management earlier announced that around PHP27 billion has been set aside in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to settle all unpaid claims for the HEA of healthcare workers. Source: Philippines News agency