Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REP! ‘ATIVES
H.B. No. Bred

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
PROVIDING GRANTS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN ORDER TO
PROMOTE POSITIVE HEALTH BEHAVIORS IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
‘The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides:

Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health
of the people and instill health consciousness among them,

Chronic diseases, defined as any condition that requires regular medical
attention or medication, are the leading causes of death and disability for women in
the country. According to the 2003 Health Statistics from the Department of Health
(DOH), the five leading causes of death among Filipina women are heart disease,
cancer, diabetes, pneumonia and unintentional injuries. Poor diet, physical inactivity,
tobacco use, and alcohol abuse are the health risk behaviors that most often lead to
disease, premature death, and disability, and are particularly prevalent among women.
High poverty rates coupled with barriers to health preventive services and medical

care contribute to disparities in health factors.


There is increasing evidence that early life experiences are associated with
adult chronic disease and that prevention and intervention services provided within the
community and the home may lessen the impact of chronic outcomes, while
strengthening families and communities. Community health workers, who are
Primarily women, can be a critical component in conducting health promotion and
disease prevention efforts in medically underserved populations.

Recognizing the difficult barriers confronting medically underserved
communities (poverty, geographic isolation, language and cultural differences, lack of
transportation, low literacy, and lack of access to services), community health workers
are in a unique position to reduce preventable morbidity and mortality, improve the
quality of life, and increase the utilization of available Preventive health services for
community members. Thus, there is a need | to provide grants to community health
workers to empower them in promoting positive health behaviors among women and

children."

H. HARRY L ROQUE JR.

' This bill was originally filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the Sixteenth
Congress, Second Regular Session.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REP! ‘ATIVES
EOF REPRSBBS

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
PROVIDING GRANTS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN ORDER TO
PROMOTE POSITIVE HEALTH BEHAVIORS IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “Community Health

Workers Act.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:
(1) “Community health worker” means an individual who promotes health or
nutrition within the community in which the individual resides—

(A) by serving as a liaison between communities and health care
agencies,

(B) by providing guidance and social assistance to community residents;

(C) by enhancing community residents’ ability to effectively
communicate with health care providers,

(D) by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health or
nutrition education;


(E) by advocating for individual and community health or nutrition
needs; and
(F) by providing referral and follow-up services.

(2) “Community setting” means a home or a Community organization located
in the neighborhood in which a participant resides.

(3) “Support” means the provision of training, supervision, and materials
needed to effectively deliver the services described in Section 3(b), reimbursement for
services, and other benefits.

(4) “Target population” means women of reproductive age, regardless of their

current childbearing status and children under 21 years of age

SECTION 3. Grants Authorized. —

(a) In General. — The Secretary of Health (Secretary), in collaboration with the
Director, is authorized to award grants to local health center units, to promote positive
health behaviors for women and children in target populations, especially in
indigenous communities.

(b) Use of Funds. — Grants awarded pursuant to Section 3(a) may be used to
support community health workers —

(1) to educate, guide, and provide outreach in a community setting
regarding health problems prevalent among women and children,
(2) to educate, guide, and provide experiential learning opportunities
that target behavioral risk factors including—
(A) poor nutrition,

(B) physical inactivity,

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(C) being overweight or obese;
(D) tobacco use;
(E) alcohol and substance use;
(F) injury and violence;
(G) risky sexual behavior, and
(H) mental health problems,
(3) to educate and guide regarding effective strategies to promote
Positive health behaviors within the family;
(4) to promote community wellness and awareness; and
(5) to educate and refer target populations to appropriate health care
agencies and community-based programs and organizations in order to increase

access to quality health care services, including preventive health services.

SECTION 4. Application. —
(a) In General. — Each local health center unit that desires to receive a grant
under Section 3(a) shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such
manner, and accompanied by such additional information as the Secretary may
require,
(b) Contents. — Each application submitted pursuant to Section 4(a) shall:
(1) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is
sought;
(2) contain an assurance that with respect to each community health
worker program receiving funds under the grant awarded, such program


provides training and supervision to community health workers to enable such
workers to provide authorized program services;

(3) contain an assurance that the applicant will evaluate the effectiveness
of community health worker programs receiving funds under the grant,

(4) contain an assurance that each community health worker program
receiving funds under the grant will provide services in the cultural context
most appropriate for the individuals served by the program,

(5) contain a plan to document and disseminate project description and
results to other health center and organizations as identified by the Secretary;
and

(6) describe plans to enhance the capacity of individuals to utilize health
services and health-related social by-

(i) assisting individuals in establishing eligibility under the
programs and in receiving the services or other benefits of the programs,
and

(ii) providing other services as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate, that may include transportation and translation services,

(c) Priority. — In awarding grants under Section 3(a), the Secretary shall give

priority to those applicants:

(1) with experience in providing health or health -related social services
to individuals who are underserved with respect to such services, and
(2) with documented community activity and experience with

community health workers.


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(d) Quality Assurance and Cost-Effectiveness. — The Secretary shall establish
guidelines for assuring the quality of the training and supervision of community health
workers under the programs funded under this section and for assuring the cost-
effectiveness of such programs.

(e) Monitoring. — The Secretary shall monitor community health worker
programs identified in approved applications and shall determine whether such
programs are in compliance with the guidelines established under Section 3(b).

(f) Technical Assistance. — The Secretary may provide technical assistance to
community health worker programs identified in approved applications with respect to

planning, developing, and operating programs under the grant.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of the Act which is not affected thereby

shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 6, Appropriations. — To carry out the provisions of this Act, such
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the
National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of
this program shall be included in the annual appropriation of the Department of
Health,

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part thereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise

affected shall remain valid and subsisting.


SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or
amended accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,