CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2039

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. MARK A. VILLAR:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 7883 provides that it shall be the policy of the State to
protect and promote the right to health of the people and to provide conditions for
health empowerment, where each individual has access to information and
services that will bring about health and well-being. The Primary Health Care
Approach is recognized as the major strategy towards health empowerment,
emphasizing the need to provide accessible and acceptable health services
through participatory strategies such as health education, training of barangay
health workers, community building and organizing.

Barangay health workers (BHWs) are the front-liners in the campaign
towards health empowerment. As such, the aforesaid law provides incentives
and benefits 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
oan.

While much has been afforded by the aforesaid law to the BHWs, there is

“still a need to provide them basic health, retirement, disability and funeral

benefits. Certainly, the State has to take care of the well being of its front-line
care givers.

Hence, there is a need to make the membership of all accredited BHWs
to PHILHEALTH and GSIS compulsory thereby expanding and increasing the
benefits they are currently receiving. 7
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MARK A. VILLAR
- Representative, Lone District of Las Pifias City



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CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 2039

™ Introduced by REP. MARK A. VILLAR

AN ACT
GRANTING COMPULSORY COVERAGE TO ACCREDITED BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE OR
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM, AMENDING FOR THIS
PURPOSE SECTION 6 OF THE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883

Section 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known as the
“Barangay Heath Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995,” is hereby
amended by adding new subsections to read as follows:

“SEC. 6. Incentives and Benefits. —

“(F) PHILHEALTH COMPULSORY COVERAGE. — ALL BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS SHALL BE ENROLLED IN THE
NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM TO ENABLE THEM TO
RECEIVE AND AVAIL OF AN ADEQUATE PACKAGE OF PERSONAL HEALTH
SERVICES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IN-PATIENT HOSPITAL CARE,
OUT-PATENT CARE, EMERGENCY AND TRANSFER SERVICES, AND ALSO
OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY HEALTH BENEFITS, AS MAY BE PROVIDED IN
THE. PHILIPPINE 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.”

SEC. ~2. The premium contribution and thereafter, the 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.


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_U.B. No. 2099 =

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.

SEC. 4, Rules and Regulations. - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
and the Government Service 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. 6. 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...

Approved.