ORMOC CITY – Two (2) resolutions granting authority to the city mayor to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Department of Health-Eastern Visayas Center (DOH-EV CHD) were passed during the 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) session on October 28, 2025.
The said MoA pertains to the grant of financial assistance for the completion of the Ormoc City Wellness Center in the amount of PHP20 million and the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) for public health care workers (HCWs) and non-health care workers.
Accordingly, PAGCOR, through its Board of Directors, is permitted to give out and disburse PAGCOR’s designated earnings in accordance with applicable regulations to finance infrastructure, socio-civic, and social impact projects, such as, but not limited to, flood control programs, beautification, sewerage and sewage projects, nutritional and population control programs, health and medical projects, the restoration of damaged or destroyed facilities due to calamities, and such other essential public services.
Furthermore, in order to fulfill its mandate under Presidential Decree No. 1869, as modified, and its Charter, PAGCOR is willing to entrust public funds to qualified institutions in order to help the provision of social welfare and development programs and services in compliance with the law, while LGU-Ormoc is willing and able to manage grants or donations from PAGCOR in pursuit of its mandate.
On the one hand, the other resolution passed mentioned that the DOH-DBM issued joint Administrative Order No. 2023-0001, dated October 16, 2023 entitled, “Guidelines on the Grant of Health Emergency Allowance to Public HCWs and Non-HCWs during the State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19,” to provide guidelines for a rationalized identification of eligible health facilities.
It also said that the Republic Act No. 11712, otherwise known as the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations provide for the payment of Health Emergency Allowance, Sickness and Death Compensation, and other benefits for public and private health care workers and non-health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and other future public health emergencies with retroactive application starting July 1, 2021. By By Gwen Maurillo (EV Mail OCTOBER 27-NOVEMBER 2, 2025 issue)
