1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT   
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State has the primary responsibility for people's right to health. This is 
guaranteed in the Philippine Constitution provision that “the state shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them”1 
and  shall “adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development 
which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available 
to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the under-
privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall also endeavor 
to provide free medical care to paupers.”2 
In the Philippines, even before the 1978 Alma Ata Primary Health Care 
Declaration, many non-government organizations (NGOs)had taken the lead in training 
community health workers and providing health services in the communities.  The 
government later on joined the bandwagon to train barangay health workers (BHWs).3 
Community health workers and/or BHWs are an integral part of health service 
provision at the community level as they provide basic health care services to the 
1 ’Philippine Constitution, Anicle II, Section 15 
2 Philippine Constitution, Article XIII, Section 11 
3 https://opinion.inquirer.net/120569/health-for-all-replay 
October 12, 2022
4:49 pm
5539


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community. They provide ﬁrst aid, collect vital statistics, maintain records, and make 
reports; participate in community meetings’ provide assistance to health center 
activities like nutrition education, monitoring and feeding; immunization education, 
monitoring, and dispensing family planning services, sanitation and hygiene promotion 
and education, and disaster relief and rehabilitation, among others. 
 
 
BHWs are among the front-liners in primary health care as they provide 
assistance and support to physicians, dentists, nutritionists, public health nurses, and 
midwives. Their role is indispensable to community health and wellness.  
 
 
Recognizing the important role of BHWs in primary health care, Republic Act 
7883 Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995 was passed into 
law granting benefits and incentives to accredited barangay health workers.  
 
 
RA 7883 provided incentives and benefits to BHWs including hazard allowance, 
subsistence allowance, training and education and career enrichment programs, Civil 
service eligibility, Free legal services, and preferential access to loan. 
 
 
Despite the passage into law of  RA 7883, the issues and concerns besetting the 
BHWs and the barangay level health care persisted. 
 
 
The country still does not have enough BHWs. The  Department of Health 
(DOH) admitted in 2019 that the present number of BHWs at  207,392 are not enough 
for the needs of the people and that we need 802,422 more. DOH-Bureau of Local 
Health Systems and Development Maria Lourdes Gajitos claimed that it is not easy to 
fill the discrepancy because BHW work is "voluntary".4 
 
 
But this “voluntary” nature of BHWs is used as a pretext to exploit them and 
grossly take them for granted. 
 
 
Like most of the barangay folks they serve, BHWs suffer from poor economic 
conditions, inadequate health services and facilities, and being subjected to political 
maneuverings of local politicians. 
 
 
Many BHWs have no regular jobs, and rely on their allowances as BHW. But 
their allowances vary significantly, ranging from P300 to P6,000 per month depending 
on the LGU. 
 
 
Some barangay health workers need to slog through the ﬁelds just to conduct 
house-to-house visits in some areas, many have to shell out their own money for food, 
travel and reproduction of forms; some are exposed to many health and hazard risks 
while doing their tasks, and some lack up to date awareness on emerging health issues. 
Their services need not be at the expense of the depreciation of their labor for our poor 
                                                 
4 https://www.doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/news_clips/042119-0002.pdf 


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communities. 
 
 
Since BHWs are accredited, registered and maintained by local health boards, 
they are at the mercy of LGUs. Some “lucky” BHWs get more allowances and benefits 
and are given all the support by their LGUs. Yet some others get inadequate allowances 
and support, and worse removed or forced to resign if another local official is elected. 
BHWs are being used by many local executives for their political and electoral 
campaigns. 
 
 
If not for the strong spirit of volunteerism and patriotism of many BHWs, many 
would have left this voluntary work. Yet for all their willingness to help and serve, they 
are calling for recognition, and support from the government. 
 
 
This Bill seeks to give our Barangay Health Workers the due recognition that 
they deserve by granting them beneﬁts package, as well as protection from 
discrimination and undue dismissal and free education and training programs for 
barangay health workers. 
 
 
Such would not only encourage more people to become BHWs but would also 
contribute to the improvement of community health services and better people’s health. 
 
 
This Bill was first filed by Bayan Muna Reps. Ferdinand Gaite, Carlos Zarate, 
Eufemia Cullamat, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. 
Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago during the 18th Congress as HB 
6562, which was substituted by HB 10699 and was passed on third reading. 
 
 
The immediate passage of this Bill, thus, is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
________________________________ 
Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO 
ACT Teachers Party-List 
 
 
 
 
________________________________ 
Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS 
GABRIELA Women’s Party 
 
 
________________________________ 
Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
KABATAAN Party-List 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT   
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of Barangay 
Health Workers.”  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect 
and promote the right to health of people and adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development. Pursuant thereto, it shall endeavor to make essential 
goods, healthcare, and other social services available to all the people. In line with the 
country’s commitment to accomplish health indicator targets under United Nations’ 
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the State shall adopt policies that promote 
the welfare and well-being of barangay health workers who are the forefront of the 
delivery of healthcare at the grassroots level, and which shall effectively harness their 
potential as partners in development. 
SEC. 3. Definition. – As used in this Act, the term “barangay health worker” refers to 
a person who has undergone training under any accredited government agency or 
government institution and who renders primary healthcare services in the community 
after having been accredited to function as such by the local health board in accordance 
with the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Health (DOH) pursuant to 
Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7883 otherwise known as the “Barangay Health Workers’ 
Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995.”   
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SEC. 4.  Registration. – Barangay health workers (BHWs) shall be registered with the 
local health board in the city or municipality in which they render service. The 
registered health workers shall be given appropriate proof of said registration. 
 
 
The municipal and city health offices shall regularly maintain and update the 
BHW Registry with the assistance of the BHW Federation and shall submit the same to 
the municipal or city health board. The local health offices shall submit a copy of their 
respective updated BHW registry to the Provincial Health Office which shall 
consolidate all registries. Upon the validation of the Provincial BHW Federation, the 
consolidated Provincial Registry shall be submitted to the Provincial Health Board, and 
the same shall be posted in the municipal or city bulletin boards and barangay health 
centers.  
 
 
The Provincial BHW Registry shall be submitted on or before April 30 of every 
year to the DOH at the regional and national levels for consolidation. The DOH is 
hereby mandated to maintain a national register of BHWs.  
 
 
In order to qualify for registration, a barangay health worker must:   
 
(a) Have rendered basic community health care services continuously and  
satisfactorily for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the date 
of the filing of application for registration in the barangay as certified by 
the Rural Health Midwife (RHM) or public health nurse assigned to the 
barangay and by the head of the barangay health workers association;  
 
(b) Have completed the basic orientation and training for BHWs as 
prescribed by the DOH and conducted by an accredited government 
agency, or DOH-recognized academic institution, or nongovernmental 
organization (NGO); 
 
(c) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the date of the filing of the 
application for registration; and, 
 
(d) Be physically and mentally fit. 
 
 
It shall be the duty of the municipal and city health offices, in cooperation with 
the Provincial Health Office and DOH, to provide the BHW applicants with basic 
orientation and training within six (6) months from the date of approval of their 
application.   
  
SEC. 5. Accreditation. – To further professionalize the health care services rendered 
by the  BHWs and ensure the health and welfare of the community, a duly registered 
BHW must be accredited by the municipal or city health board. The municipal or city 
health board shall issue the certificate of accreditation to qualified BHWs. In order to 
qualify for accreditation, the applicant BHW must:  


6 
 
(a) Be registered in accordance with Section 4 hereof; 
 
(b) Have completed in the locality at least two (2) years of continuous and 
satisfactory service immediately prior to the filing of application for 
accreditation; 
 
(c) Have completed a regular training program on health care service and 
community-based health program, that would upgrade and develop the 
skills and competency of BHWs to perform their roles. The training 
program shall be institutionalized by the DOH, in cooperation with local 
government units (LGUs). 
 
It shall be the duty of the municipal and city LGUs, in cooperation with the 
provincial government and the DOH, to provide the applicant BHWs the necessary 
support and opportunities for accreditation. 
 
 
A BHW must complete the regular training program on health care service and 
community-based health program within five (5) years from registration.  
 
 
The municipal and city health boards or through their registration and 
accreditation committee shall act on the applications for accreditation of BHWs not later 
than thirty (30) days from the date of application. 
 
 
The DOH shall also maintain an updated roster of accredited BHWs that is 
accessible to the general public.  
 
SEC. 6. Number and Role of Barangay Health Workers. – Notwithstanding the 
limitations prescribed under Section 325(a) of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, 
otherwise known as “The Local Government Code of 1991”, each barangay shall at 
least have one (1) BHW for every twenty (20) households. 
 
 
As one of the key partners in a reformed healthcare delivery system, the DOH 
and LGUs shall support the roles of BHWs as: 
 
(a) Advocate - to support, promote and champion current health programs, 
projects, and activities to improve access to quality health services 
towards the improved health status of the community; 
 
(b) Educator - to guide and advise the community on the current DOH and 
health priorities of LGUs such as importance of birth plan and facility-
based delivery in reducing maternal and infant deaths; newborn screening 
for the early detection of congenital metabolic disorders which may lead 
to mental retardation and even death, among others; 
 


7 
 
(c) Disseminator - to maintain regular communication with local professional 
health workers on health events and updates and concerns relevant to the 
community and inform the same to the community for appropriate action, 
if necessary; 
 
(d) Coordinator - to facilitate access to any group or association of the 
community with a relevant network of or specific health and non-health 
service providers; 
 
(e) Record Keeper - to maintain updated records of health data, health 
activities and events in the community; 
 
(f) Health Care Service Provider – to assist and provide basic healthcare 
services as may be needed in the community in any health event. 
 
A BHW shall not be required to engage in any partisan political activity.  
  
SEC. 7.  Mandatory Appointment of Barangay Health Worker (BHW). – There shall 
be appointed at least one (1) BHW in every barangay for every twenty (20) households 
who shall be under the supervision and control of the DOH.  The BHW so appointed 
shall coordinate closely with the local government health officer in the implementation 
of health programs in the locality. As far as practicable, the BHW to be employed must 
be a resident of the barangay.  
  
 
The DOH shall determine the ratio of barangay health workers according to the 
number of households: Provided, That there shall be at least one (1) BHW for every 
twenty (20) households: Provided, further, That the total number of barangay health 
workers nationwide shall not be less than one percent (1%) of the total population.  
  
SEC. 8. Incentives and Benefits. – All BHWs who are actively and regularly 
performing their duties shall be entitled to monthly honoraria in the amount of not less 
than Three thousand pesos (P3,000.00) subject to adjustment based on the prevailing 
market value, in addition to the following incentives and benefits:  
 
(a) Privileges for the BHWs. – All accredited BHWs shall be entitled to 
twenty percent (20%) discount on all the items enumerated under Section 
4(a) of Republic Act No. 9994 otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior 
Citizens Act of 2010”: Provided, That the privileges shall not be claimed 
if the BHW is eligible for a higher discount that may be granted by the 
commercial establishment or other existing laws.  
  


8 
 
 
The commercial establishment may claim the discount granted under this Section 
as tax deduction based on the cost of goods sold or services rendered: Provided, That 
the discount shall be allowed as deduction from the gross income for the same taxable 
year that the discount is granted: Provided, further, that the total amount of the claimed 
tax deduction net of value-added tax, if applicable, shall be included in their gross sales 
receipt for tax purposes and shall be subject to proper documentation and to the 
provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as  amended. 
 
(b) Hazard Allowance. – All accredited BHWs shall be entitled to hazard 
allowance in an amount to be determined by the local health board of the 
LGU concerned, which in no case shall be less than One thousand pesos 
(₱1,000.00) per month, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations; 
 
(c) Subsistence Allowance. – All accredited BHWs who render service 
within the premises of isolated barangay health stations shall be entitled 
to subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals they take in the course 
of their duty, which shall be computed in accordance with prevailing 
circumstances as determined by the LGU concerned, such allowance 
shall, in no case, be less than One hundred pesos (₱100.00) per day; 
 
(d) Transportation Allowance. – All accredited BHWs, in the performance of 
their official duties, shall be entitled to a transportation allowance of not 
less than One thousand pesos (₱1,000.00) per month, subject to auditing 
rules and regulations; 
 
(e) One-time Retirement Cash Incentive. – An accredited BHW who has 
continuously and satisfactorily served for at least fifteen (15) years shall 
be entitled to a one-time retirement cash incentive of not less than Ten 
thousand pesos (₱10,000.00) in recognition of their loyalty and 
dedication, which shall be borne by the municipality or city concerned. 
The provincial government may provide assistance for this purpose, in the 
case of component cities; 
 
(f) Training, Education and Career Enrichment Programs. – The DOH shall, 
in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission 
on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills 
Development 
Authority 
(TESDA), 
DOH-recognized 
academic 
institutions, other concerned agencies and non-government organizations, 
provide information on and opportunities for education and career 
enrichment for accredited BHWs, such as in the following programs: 
 


9 
 
(1) Educational programs which credit the years of primary healthcare 
service of the BHW towards higher education completion in 
institutions with stepladder curricula thus allowing them to 
upgrade their skills and knowledge for community work or to 
pursue further training as midwives, pharmacists, nurses or 
doctors; 
(2) Continuing education, study and exposure tours, grants, field 
immersion, and scholarships, among others; 
(3) Scholarship benefits in the form of tuition fees in state colleges, to 
be granted to one (1) child of every barangay health worker who 
will not be able to take advantage of the programs described in 
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) hereof; and 
(4) Special training programs such as traditional medicine, disaster 
preparedness and other programs that address emergent 
community health problems and issues. 
 
(g) Health Benefits. – All accredited BHWs shall be entitled to the following 
health benefits during their incumbency: 
 
(1) Free medical care, including surgery and surgical expenses 
medicines, x-ray and other laboratory fees, when confined in any 
public hospital or health institution; 
 
(2) Emergency assistance not exceeding the amount of Five thousand 
pesos (₱5,000.00) chargeable against the fund of the barangay 
concerned, for expenses incurred in the nearest private hospital or 
clinic in case of extreme emergency where there is no available 
public hospital; 
 
(3) Mandatory and immediate membership in the PhilHealth as 
indirect contributors. 
 
The LGUs concerned shall also endeavor to provide other health benefits 
to accredited BHWs not otherwise provided by law; 
 
(h) Insurance Coverage. – Accredited BHWs shall be granted insurance 
coverage and benefits by the Government Service Insurance System 
(GSIS) which shall be borne by the LGU concerned. For this purpose, the 
GSIS shall design an insurance benefit package suited to the needs and 
unique circumstances of the BHWs; 
 
(i) Sick, Vacation and Maternity Leaves. – All accredited BHWs shall be 
entitled to sick, vacation and maternity leaves as may be prescribed in the 
implementing rules and regulations of this Act: Provided, That, the 
BHWs shall continue to receive their monthly honoraria while on leave, 
for such period in accordance with existing laws and practices. 


10 
 
 
(j) Cash Gift. – All accredited BHWs are entitled to a cash gift not less than 
the minimum monthly honoraria to be given every December from the 
general fund of the barangay or from such other funds appropriated by the 
national government for the purpose; 
 
(k) Disability Benefit. – An accredited BHW who sustains an injury or falls 
ill in the course of the performance of their duties shall be entitled to Two 
thousand pesos (₱2,000.00) for every year of service. 
 
(l) Civil Service Eligibility. – A first grade eligibility shall be granted to 
accredited BHWs who have rendered three (3) years continuous service 
as such: Provided, That should a BHW become a regular employee of the 
government, the total numbers of years served as such shall be credited to 
the BHW’s service in the computation of retirement benefits. 
 
No person duly accredited as a BHW shall be removed except for a valid cause 
to be determined by the Local Health Board (LHB): Provided, That if found to be 
unjustly removed from service, a BHW shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss 
of benefits and incentives from the time of termination up to the time of his 
reinstatement. The LHB shall resolve termination cases against a BHW judiciously not 
later than ninety (90) days from the receipt of a complaint. 
 
(m) Free  Legal  Services. –  Legal representation and consultation services 
shall be immediately provided by the Public Attorney’s Office to a BHW 
in cases of coercion, interference, and in other civil and criminal cases 
filed by or against the BHW arising out of or in connection with the 
performance of their duties as such. 
 
(n) Preferential Access to Loan Facilities. – The DOH in coordination with 
other concerned government agencies shall provide, within one hundred 
eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act, a mechanism that shall 
provide organized BHWs access to loan services. The agencies providing 
loan services will set aside one percent (1%) of their loanable funds for 
organized BHW groups that have community-based income generating 
projects in support of health programs or activities.  
  
SEC. 9. Review by the Local Health Board. – Every incentive or benefit for BHWs 
requiring expenditure of local funds shall be reviewed and approved by the LHB. Such 
benefits and incentives may be increased, upon review of the LHB, after considering, 
among others, the present Consumer Price Index (CPI) as published by the Philippine 
Statistics Authority (PSA).” 
 
SEC. 10. Discrimination Prohibited. – Discrimination against any BHW by reason of 
gender, civil status, creed, religious or political beliefs and ethnic groupings in the 
exercise of their functions and responsibilities is hereby prohibited. 


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SEC. 11. No Diminution of Benefits. – Nothing in this Act shall be construed to reduce 
any existing allowances and benefits of any form under existing laws, decrees, 
executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations. 
 
SEC. 12. Protection of BHWs. – The municipal, city, provincial governments and the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall establish a grievance 
mechanism as a means of processing complaints of BHWs against alleged acts of 
discrimination and unjust removal from the service. A BHW may appeal their 
grievances to the DILG. 
 
SEC. 13. Right to Self-organization. – A BHW shall have the right to freely form, join 
or assist organizations to obtain redress of their grievances through peaceful concerted 
activities, in a manner not contrary to law, and with utmost regard to service to patients 
and the continuous operation of barangay health services in the interest of public health, 
safety, or survival of patients.  
 
SEC. 14. Representation in the Local Health Board and Primary Health Care 
Provider Network. – The president of the municipal or city association of BHWs shall 
be a member of the municipal or city local health board. The presidents of the 
association of BHWs of each component city and municipality associations of a 
province shall elect from among themselves their representative to the provincial health 
board: Provided, That, the BHW representatives to the health boards shall not be 
allowed to vote on the registration, accreditation and disciplinary or removal complaints 
of BHWs. 
 
 
The BHWs shall also form part of the healthcare provider network and shall 
participate in the implementation of healthcare services and programs.  
 
SEC. 15. Continuous Capacity Building for BHWs. – The DOH shall conduct 
continuous capacity building for BHWs to enhance and upgrade their knowledge and 
skills, including training programs conducted online and in major Philippine dialects.  
 
 
The DOH shall, in coordination with TESDA and other concerned agencies, 
assist the LGUs in the development of education modules or materials that highlight the 
collective experiences and learnings of BHWs and the use of traditional and 
complementary medicine. 
 
 
The LGUs shall endeavor to establish their own training centers for their BHWs  
and other health workers in coordination with TESDA, NGOs, and other agencies 
concerned. 
 


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The LGUs shall also implement a development program for BHWs that will 
allow them to benefit from ladderized training as provided under Republic Act No. 
10968, otherwise known as the “PQF Act,” and Republic Act No. 10647, otherwise 
known as the “Ladderized Education Act of 2014,” including academic credits for 
health-related courses. 
 
SEC. 16. Penalty Clause. – Any local government official who violates any provision 
of this Act may be administratively and criminally charged in accordance with law.   
 
SEC. 17. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act 
shall be charged against the National Tax Allotment (NTA) of the LGUs, other local 
funds and the special health fund under Republic Act No. 11223 otherwise known as 
the “Universal Health Care Act.” 
 
SEC. 18. Implementing Rules and Regulation. – The DOH and the DILG shall, in 
consultation with the DepEd, the CSC, the GSIS, and other concerned government 
agencies and non-governmental entities, promulgate the rules and regulations to 
implement this Act not later than one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of 
this Act. 
 
SEC. 19. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.  
 
SEC. 20. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 7883 otherwise known as the 
“Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995” is hereby repealed. 
All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, which are inconsistent with 
this Act are hereby repealed, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 21. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,