SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
'semlh, 
(I)H.;, "f tI!,~"ytlor ~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
SEP 11 P 6 :30 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 164.6 
RF;CEl"EB ~. 
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The fundamental right of our people to health is enshrined in our 1987 Philippine 
Constitution. Thus, Section 15, Article III of the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the 
policy of the state to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
consciousness among them .. 
Furthennore, Section I 1 , Article XIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states, thus: 
Section 1 L The State 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 underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State 
shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers. 
The need to provide accessible primary health care services to the people is fundamental 
towards ensuring the health empowennent of the people, especially those in far-flung 
communities who have no convenient access to health care providers. It is for this reason 
that this bi1l is being proposed by mandating that at least one (1) health worker be provided in 
every barangay in the country. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended. 
MA 
ANCY S. BINAY 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
-il?l1l!tl' 
(!jff,;, or t~. j.m 'I"r~ 
'1) 
S£? 11 
P6 :30 
S. B. No. 
1646 
~ 
RE('rdj,'i~l) in '._.- l-
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay 
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AN ACT MAKING HEALTH CARE SERVICES ACCESSIBLE BY MANDATING THE 
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE (1) HEALTH WORKER 
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OR SUCH OTHER NECESSARY HEALTH PERSONNEL IN EVERY BARANGAY, 
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AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1, Short Titk This Act shall be known as the "Accessible Rural Health Care Act 
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of20H" 
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SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. The state shall promote the right to health of the people 
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and to provide conditions for health empowerment and instill health consciousness among the 
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peopk To ensure this, the state shaH make available and accessihle to all people, particularly 
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those in far flung communities, primary health care services, 
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SECTION 3, Provision of Health Workers and Other Health Personnd There shall be in 
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every barangay throughout the country at least one (1) health worker, The Secretary of the 
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DOH may also designate such other health personnel in the barangay, in addition to the 
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health worker, who shall work efficiently with the community. 
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The health worker or such other health personnel shall hold office at a designated health 
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station within the barangay or at the barangay health center, if any, "Health worker" means a 
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citizen of the Philippines who is a licensed medical practitioneL "Health personnel" means 
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any person who shall possess the necessary professional qualifications to work efficiently to 
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provide primary health care services in the barangay, 
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SECTION 4. Absence of Availability of Health Worker. In the absence of an available 
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health worker, the Secretary of the DOH may: 
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I, Designate such other health personnel in the barangay; or 
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2. Call upon private volunteers who are responsible members of the community to provide 
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medical services for the barangay. 
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SECTION 5. Programs and Services. The barangay health worker and/or health personnel 
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shall offer primary health care services to member of the community free of charge. They 
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shall also provide such other medical services and enact programs that will promote the 
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health of the people within the community pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by 
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the DOH. 
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SECTION 6. Coordination with Barangay Health Volunteers. Such health worker or health 
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personnel shall work closely with and coordinate with barangay "Health Volunteers" 
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accredited pursuant to Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise knowu as the Barangay Health 
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Worker's Benefit and Incentives Act of 1995." 
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SECTION 7. Authority to Accept Donations. 
The DOH, through the Secretary of 
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Department, may accept donations and grants, both domestic and foreign, for purposes of 
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implementing the provisions of this Act. Such donations and grants shall be subject to 
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pertinent accounting and auditing rules and regulations. 
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SECTION 8. Tmplementing Rules and Regulations. The DOH, in consultation with the 
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Department of Interior and Local Government and other relevant government agencies, 
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leagues of local government officials, non-governmental organizations, shall promulgate the 
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Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act within ninety (90) calendar days from the 
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approval hereof 
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SECTION 9. Appropriation. 
The amount of One Hundred Fifty Million Pesos 
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(1!150,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial implementation of this Act. 
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Thereafter, the DOH shall include the amounts necessary for the implementation of this Act 
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in its annual budgets. 
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SECTION 10. Separability Clause. If any portion or provision of this Act is declared void 
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and unconstitutional, the remaining portions or provisions hereof shall not be affected by 
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such declaration. 
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SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, other 
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issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 12. EffectiVity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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