Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._210

Introduced by Honorable Neptali M. Gonzales I

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 18, Article II of the 1987 Constitution unequivocally affirms
labor as a primary social and economic force and mandates the State to
protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare. Moreover, Section
Il, Article XII, provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to
make essential goods and social services available to all the people at
affordable cost.

Despite these constitutional mandates, barangay health workers are
classified as among the poorest public servants and receive meager
allowances for braving remote barangays, traversing inaccessible roads and
even sea routes to discharge their tasks.

In recognition of their invaluable service, and for living up to the very
essence of selfless service to our nation, this bill seeks to provide a
compulsory coverage to accredited barangay health workers in the National
Health Insurance Program.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

Pes K bhenss ue


Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2io

Introduced by Honorable Neptali M. Gonzales II

AN ACT
GRANTING COMPULSORY COVERAGE TO ACCREDITED
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH
INSURANCE PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT 7883, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise
known as the “Barangay Health Workers” Benefits and Incentives Act of
1995,” is hereby amended by adding a new subsection which shall read as
follows:

“Sec. 6. Incentives and Benefits — x x x
“(G) PHILHEALTH COMPULSORY COVERAGE. —
ALL BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND THEIR

DEPENDENTS SHALL BE ENROLLED IN THE


NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR
THEM TO RECEIVE AND AVAIL OF AN ADEQUATE
PACKAGE OF PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT
MUST INCLUDE IN-PATIENT HOSPITAL CARE, OUT-
PATIENT CARE, EMERGENCY AND TRANSFER
SERVICES, AND ALSO OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY
HEALTH BENEFITS AS MAY BE DEFINED BY THE
PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION
(PHIC) AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT (LGU)
WHERE THEY RENDER SERVICES.

“THE PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS — AND,
THEREAFTER, THE STANDARD MONTHLY
CONTRIBUTIONS, SHALL BE BORNE BY THE LGU
CONCERNED; SUCH THAT, UPON THE PASSAGE OF
THIS ACT, THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND
THEIR DEPENDENTS SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY
ENTITLED TO THE FULL ENJOYMENT AND
AVAILMENT OF ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES AS
CONTAINED IN REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7875 OR THE

NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT: PROVIDED,


THAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT SHALL PROVIDE
SUBSIDY FOR THE PROGRAM TO FOURTH, FIFTH AND
SIXTH CLASS MUNICIPALITIES: PROVIDED, FURTHER,
THAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT'S SUBSIDY TO.
QUALIFIED LGU SHALL NOT EXCEED FIFTY
PERCENT(50%) OF THE NEEDED PREMIUM COST.

“THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS SHALL

NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY MONTHLY

CONTRIBUTIONS AND ALL OTHER FEES OR CHARGES

FOR THEM TO BE ENTITLED TO THE PROGRAM'S

BENEFITS.”

SEC, 2. Congress shall conduct regular review of this program
which shall be primarily evaluated on its impact and accomplishments. Such
review shall be jointly undertaken by the committees in the Senate and the
House of Representatives which shall have legislative jurisdiction over this
program.

SEC. 3. The government of the Republic of the Philippines
guarantees the financial viability of this program.

SEC. 4. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, in

consultation and coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local


‘ice governors and mayors of the

Government and the leagues of Governors,

Philippines, shall formulate within one hundred (100) days the rules and
regulations necessary to implement this Act.

SEC.5. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the
remainder or any of the provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain
in force and effect.

SEC. 6. All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential issuances
and other administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof which are
inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,