, ' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SEN~2~oa 
S.No. ___ _ 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'15 
JUN -8 P4 :16 
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. H,igh poverty rates 
, 
coupled with barriers to health preventive services and medical ckre 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. 
1 


· 
' 
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 I to provide grants to community health workers to empower them 
in promoting positive health behaviors among women and children.! 
1 This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE _ 
('80 l ' 
S. N o. _--,-,,",~--=-g=-
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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i()lfl1'f "f tf:P i~1 rrrbru 
'l'i 
JUN -8 P4 :16 
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: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shaH be known as "Community Health 
2 
Workers Act." 
3 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
4 
(I) "Community health worker" means an individual who promotes health or 
5 
nutrition within the community in which the individual resides~ 
6 
(A) by serving as a liaison between communities and health care agencies; 
7 
(B) by providing guidance and social assistance to community residents; 
8 
(C) by enhancing community residents' ability to effectively communicate 
9 
with health care providers; 
10 
(D) by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health or nutrition 
11 
education; 
12 
(E) by advocating for individual and community health or nutrition needs; 
13 
and 
14 
(F) by providing referral and follow-up services. 
15 
(2) "Community setting" means a home or a Community organization located in 
16 
the neighborhood in which a participant resides. 
1 


(3) "Support" means the provision of training, supervision, and materials needed 
2 
to effectively deliver the services described in Section 3(b), reimbursement [or services, 
3 
and other benefits. 
4 
(4) "Target population" means women of reproductive age, regardless of their 
5 
current childbearing status and children under 21 years of age. 
6 
SECTION 3. Grants Authorized. -
7 
(a) In General. - The Secretary of Health (Secretary), in collaboration with the 
8 
Director, is authorized to award grants to local health center units, to promote positive 
9 
health behaviors [or women and children in target populations, especially in indigenous 
10 
communities. 
11 
(b) Use of Funds. - Grants awarded pursuant to Section 3(a) may be used to 
12 
support community health workers-
13 
(1) to educate, guide, and provide outreach in a community setting 
14 
regarding health problems prevalent among women and children; 
15 
(2) to educate, guide, and provide experiential learning opportunities that 
16 
target behavioral risk factors including-
17 
(A) poor nutrition; 
18 
(B) physical inactivity; 
19 
(C) being overweight or obese; 
20 
(D) tobacco use; 
21 
(E) alcohol and substance use; 
22 
(F) injury and violence; 
23 
(G) risky sexual behavior; and 
24 
(H) mental health problems; 
25 
(3) to educate and guide regarding effective strategies to promote positive 
26 
health behaviors within the family; 
2 


(4) to promote community wellness and awareness; and 
2 
(5) to educate and refer target populations to appropriate health care 
3 
agencies and community-based programs and organizations in order to increase 
4 
access to quality health care services, including preventive health services. 
5 
SECTION 4. Application. -
6 
(a) In General. - Each local health center unit that desires to receive a grant under 
7 
Section 3(a) shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, 
8 
and accompanied by such additional information as the Secretary may require. 
9 
(b) Contents. - Each application submitted pursuant to Section 4(a) shall: 
10 
(l) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; 
11 
(2) contain an assurance that with respect to each community health worker 
12 
program receiving funds under the grant awarded, such program provides training 
13 
and supervision to community health workers to enable such workers to provide 
14 
authorized program services; 
15 
(3) contain an assurance that the applicant will evaluate the effectiveness of 
16 
community health worker programs receiving funds under the grant; 
17 
(4) contain an assurance that each community health worker program 
18 
receiving funds under the grant will provide services in the cultural context most 
19 
appropriate for the individuals served by the program; 
20 
(5) contain a plan to document and disseminate project description and 
21 
results to other health center and drganizations as identified by the Secretary; and 
22 
(6) describe plans to enhance the capacity of individuals to utilize health 
23 
services and health-related social by-
24 
(i) assisting individuals in establishing eligibility under the programs 
25 
and in receiving the services or other benefits of the programs; and 
3 


(ii) providing other services as the Secretary determines to be 
2 
appropriate, that may include transportation and translation services. 
3 
(c) Priority. - In awarding grants under Section 3(a), the Secretary shall give 
4 
priority to those applicants: 
5 
(l) with experience in providing health or health -related social services to 
6 
individuals who are underserved with respect to such services; and 
7 
(2) with documented community activity and experience with community 
8 
health workers. 
9 
(d) Quality Assurance and Cost-Effectiveness. - The Secretary shall establish 
10 
guidelines for assuring the quality of the training and supervision of community health 
11 
workers under the programs funded under this section and for assuring the cost-
12 
effectiveness of such programs. 
13 
(e) Monitoring. - The Secretary shall monitor community health worker programs 
14 
identified in approved applications and shall determine whether such programs are in 
15 
compliance with the guidelines established under Section 3(b). 
16 
(1) Technical Assistance. - The Secretary may provide technical assistance to 
17 
community health worker programs identified in approved applications with respect to 
18 
planning, developing, and operating programs under the grant. 
19 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
20 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of the Act which is not affected thereby shall 
21 
continue to be in full force and effect. 
22 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
23 
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the 
24 
National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of this 
25 
program shall be included in the annual appropriation of the Department of Health. 
4 


1 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid 
2 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
3 
remain valid and subsisting. 
4 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. -
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
5 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
6 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
7 
accordingly. 
8 
SECTION 9. EffectiVity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
9 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
lapm5June2015 
5