FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHlLlPPlNES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
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Senate Bill No. 3 3 8 6 
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Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAVETANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) are volunteers accredited by the Local Health 
Board who have been trained to provide primary health care services in the community 
' in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Health. They are 
front liners in the delivery of primary health care services in the grassroots level. 
Recognizing the active role of the BHWs as frontliners in primary health care, 
Republic Act No. 7883 otherwise known as the Magna Carta for BHWs was passed in 
1995. The law provides incentives and benefb to all accredited BHWs who are actively 
and regularly performing their duties such as hazard and subsistence allowance, 
educational programs, scholarships, civil service eligibility, free legal services and 
preferential access to loan. However, since BHWs are not compulsory members of 
both the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH) and the Government 
Service Insurance System (GSIS), this in effect, denies our BHWS of the basic health, 
retirement, disability and funeral benefits that they truly deserve. 
Considering the contribution and critical role that our BHWs play in society, this 
bill seeks to make the membership of all accredited BHWs to PHILHEALTH and GSIS 
compulsory thereby expanding and increasing the benefits they are currently receiving. 
For the BHWs who devotedly and tirelessly provide primary health care service 
to the Filipino people, the approval of this Bill is urgently sought. 
Sena 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS ‘OF 
THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
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8. B. 
Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO 
AN ACT 
GRANTING COMPULSORY COVERAGE TO ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ~
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GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philjppines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 9. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known as the 
“Barangay Heath Workers’ Benefits and lncentlves Act of 1995,” is hereby amended by 
addlng new subsections to read as follows: 
“SEC. 6. Incentives and Benefits. - x x x 
“(F) 
PHILHEALTH COMPULSORY COVERAGE. - ALL 
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS SHALL 
BE ENROLLED IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRA 
TO ENABLE THEM TQ RECEIVE AND AVAIL OF AN ADEQUATE 
PACKAGE OF PERSONAL H€ALTH SERVICES INCLUDING BUT NOT 
LIMITED TO IN-PATIENT HOSPITAL CARE, OUY-PATENT CARE, 
EMERGENCY AND TRANSFER SERVICES, AND ALSO OTHER 
SUPPLEMENTARY HEALTH BENEFITS, AS MAY BE PROVIDED IN 
THE PHlLlPPlNE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION (PHIC) AND 
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT (LOU) WHERE THEY RENDER 
SERVICES. 
“(G) GSIS COMPULSORY COVERAGE. - ALL BARANGAY 
HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE ENROLLED IN THE GOVERNMENT 
SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM TO ENABLE THEM TO RECEIVE AND 
AVAIL OF THE RETIREMENT, DISABILITY AND FUNERAL BENEFITS 


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SEC. 2. 
The premium contribution and thereafter, tho standard monthly 
contributions, shall be borne by the LGU concerned; Provided, That the National 
Government shall subsidize fifty percent (50%) of the contributions of fourth, fifth and 
sixth class municipalities. 
Upon the passage of this Act, the barangay health workers 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, and the retirement, 
disability and burial benefits and other supplemental benefits, as may be defined by 
Republic Act No. 8391 or The Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997. 
Barangay health workers shall not be required to pay monthly contributions and 
all other fees or charges for them to be entitled to these benefits. 
SEC. 3. Oversight Provision. - Congress shall conduct a regular review of this 
program which shall primarily evaluate its implementation with regard to its impact and 
accomplishments. Such review shall be jointly undertaken by the appropriate 
committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives which have legislative 
jurisdiction over this program. 
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SEC. '4. Rules and Regulations. - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
and the Government Sewice Insurance System, in consultation and coordination with 
the appropriate government agencies, such as, but not limited to, the Department of 
Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and 
Management, and the leagues of governors, vice governors, mayors, and barangay 
captains of the Philippines, shall formulate within one hundred twenty (120) days the 
rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act. 
SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - 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. 0. Repealing Clause. - 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. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen 
(15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.