Republig of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First lar Session

House Bitr'vs._ 378

Introduced by Representative MARIA RACHEL J. ARENAS

AN ACT INSTITUTING REFORMS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, POLITICAL RIGHTS AND WELL BEING OF BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS TOWARDS QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES DELIVERY
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution of the World Health Organization states that “the enjoyment
of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every
human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social
condition.” Access to healthcare is, considered a human right such that everyone has
fair access to medical services, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy
working conditions, and a clan environment for the protection and preservation of the
general physical and mental wellbeing

Article II, Section 15 of th
in its declaration that, “The State
instill health consciousness amon
care services promote social justi

1987 Constitution of the Philippines echoes this,
| protect... the right to health f the people and
them.” The State recognizes that quality health
in all phases of national development.

The State further protects
provides conditions of health emy
information and services that will
care is recognized as the major
the need to provide accessible, avs
through community based- partici

1d promote the right to health of the people and
ywerment, where each individual has access to
ring about health and wellbeing. Primary health
itegy towards health empowerment, emphasizing
lable and affordable quality health services

‘ory strategies.

Generally speaking, prim
communities, is or should be cour:

health care in majority of our basic and rural
through barangay health workers (BHWs). A
BHW is a person who has undergone a training program under any accredited
government and non-government organization and who voluntarily renders primary
health care services in the community after having been accredited to function as such
by the local health board in ce with the guidelines promulgated by the
Department of Health (DOH).


Under the Implementing Riles and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No.
7883 otherwise known as the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act
of 1995, BHWs are only entitled to fixed salaries according to the Salary

Standardization Law. This Bill aii

sto expand these benefits by upgrading the

status of BHWs as a goverament worker with rights to the basic compensation
package offered to civilian government personnel.

The everyday heroism of over 380,000 predominantly women Barangay
Health Workers in the forefront of|delivering health services must be recognized and

their vital work properly compensated.

In view of the foregoing, the expeditious passage of this Bill is earnestly

sought

LU bon

ball aaa J. ARENAS

Third a pirit, Pan Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First jar Session

House|Bill No. 378

Introduced by Representative MARIA RACHEL J. ARENAS

AN ACT INSTITUTING REFO! TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, POLITICAL RIGHTS AND WELL BEING OF BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS TOWARDS QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES DELIVERY
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Republic of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Barangay Health
Workers and Services Reform Act *.

SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that
provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living,
and an improved quality of life for all. The State recognizes that quality health care
services promote social justice in all phases of national development.

The State further protects and promotes the right to health of the people and
provides conditions of health empowerment, where each individual has access to
information and services that will] bring about health and well being. Primary Health
Care (PHC) is recognized as the major strategy towards health empowerment,
emphasizing the need to provide|accessible, available and affordable quality health
services through community based - participatory strategies.



To this end, the government
and social rights of community

the principle of equal pay for

all its instrumentalities recognize the economic
ith workers to just compensation, consistent with
work and work of equal value.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. —

(@) Barangay Health Worker (CHW), is a support public health workeras defined and

covered by Republic Act way 7305 entitled, “Magna Carta of Public Health
Workers”. It includes, but not limited to, those who render primary health care
(PHC) services, nutrition services, population services, and environmental
health/disaster services;

(b) Magna Carta for Public Health Workers, as used in this Act, shall refer to RA 7305;

(©) Primary Health Care (PHC), is essential health care made universally accessible to
individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a
cost that the community and country can afford to maintain at every stage of their
development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination. It forms an integral
part both of the country's health system, of which it is the central function and main
focus, and of the overall social and economic development of the community,
characterized by partnership and empowerment of the people by means acceptable
to them. It is the first level of contact of individuals, the family and community with
the national health system bringing health care as close as possible to where people

live and work, and constitutes

(a) Public Health Worker (PHW),
engaged in health and health-r
sanitaria, health infirmaries,
stations, clinics and other heal
Government or its political
medical, allied health professi
regardless of their employment

SECTION 4. Barangay Health C

the first element of a continuing health care process;

as used in this Act, shall mean all persons who are
lated work, and all persons employed in all hospitals,
ealth centers, rural health units, barangay health
-related establishments owned and operated by the
bdivisions with original charters and shall include

|, administrative and support personnel employed
status, as pursuant to Sec. 3 of RA 7305.

‘enter (BHC). — There shall be one Barangay Health

Center in every barangay unit. PROVIDED that, additional BHCs may be constituted on
the basis of population, terrain, demographic, geography or need of the community. Each

BHC shall have the following basic an

(a) Floor Area of at least twenty-five
(b) Birthing area with delivery equi

\d essential facilities and provisions:

25) square meters;
ment, as maybe required and determined by the

community Examining Area which must be enclosed, with bed, cabinet, foot stool, and

stool;
(c) BHC Botika;



(4) Equipments including, but not limited to, blood pressure apparatus, dressing kit, over
the counter medicines, weighing scale for infants and adults, thermometers, standard
operating procedure manual from the Department of Health (DOH), glucometer, and

delivery kit;
(©) Consultation Area with table, cabi
() Adequate lighting and ventilation;

jet, and two chairs.

(g) Adequate supply of potable water and electricity;

(h) Toilet with sink and running water

SECTION 5. Functions of
integral part of the Department of H
BLHD), shall be primarily responsi
community level. Each BHC shall hi
and emergency situations:

(a) Delivers basic and primary heall
limited to the following: immunii
(b) Provides services for uncompli
thecommunity;
Provides nutrition services that in
young child feeding, counseling,
feeding;
Dispense subsidized over-the
Coordinates efforts and actions
Keeps records of health indices,
Surveys and updates a family
database,
Provides support to the pop
specifically family planning, suc!
methods;
Monitors and maintains the stan
waste management, ensures envi
reports, and alerts the Rural Sani
Serves as an area of congregati
the community members;
Assists and coordinates with th
appropriate offices on first aid
Advocates for community well:
environmental, among others;
(m) Monitors and reports on commi
(n) Perform such functions and duti
this Act.

©

(d)
(3)
(0)
(g)

@

@

@
&)
0)

; and,

¢ Barangay Health Center. — The BHC, as an
ith - Bureau of Local Health Development (DOH-
le to the delivery of public health services in the
Wve the following functions, in both regular/normal

care services for the community such as, but not

zation, prenatal and postnatal check-up, assessment
and monitoring of well and ill infpess

deliveries, as may be determined and required by

Judes growth monitoring and promotion, infant and

micro nutrient supplementation, and supplementary

iter drugs and medication with prescription;
the different members of the health team;
munity profile and other data;

jealth profile through a comprehensive population

lation management program of the government

as modern methods including natural and artificial

is of water safety, air pollution, sewerage, solid

fonmental health in the community and coordinates,

Inspector (RSI) of the same;
for meetings and training ground of the CHT and

respective Local Government Units (LGUs) and
procedures in disaster risk reduction;
ing, in terms of health, nutrition, population and

ity mental health; and
as may be necessary to carry-out the provisions of


follow the two-tiered referral sy
maximize the services of BHC ani
units. Thus, as a general rule, it i
issued by the BHC for access to

SECTION 6. Referral a

SECTION 7. Community E
health, the BHC must be com

to as CHT and which shall be

in close coordination with the I
population in the barangay:

(a) Nurse — There shall be at least of
exceeding five thousand (5,000)
headed and supervised by a Nurse;

(b) Midwife — There shall be at least
exceeding two thousand five hun

(c) BHW — There shall be at least
exceeding five hundred (500);
composed of atleast one worker i
services, population services and

SECTION 8. BHW: Qu:
community they serve: Provided
is complied with:

(a) Any person who has

and Skills Development A\

or undergone training 5

accredited institution: Pro

training assessment and
certification; or

(b) All existing BHWs whi
services for at least two (2)
Act, regardless of accredit
undergo BHW assessm

assessors and pass the equi

The public health services must observe and
m framework of Primary Health Care in order to
to attend to patients responsively in the rural health
hereby mandated that a primary referral must be
dary and tertiary health services.

ith Team (CHT). — As a component of public
of Nurse, Midwife, and CHWs, as hereby referred
the supervision and control of the DOH - BLHD,

health board proportionate with the existing

yne nurse for every barangay with a population not
Provided, that the operations of the BHC shall be

1¢ midwife for every barangay with a population not
(2,500),
1¢ BHW for every barangay with a population not
wided, that the CHWs in the barangay shall be
each field:primary health care services, nutrition
vironmental services.

ifications. —All BHWs must be a resident of the
rther that any of the following, as the case may be,

pleted the Technical Education
jority (TESDA) BHW program
ific for BHW by TESDA —
jded, that he or she has passed the
dbtained the equivalent national

have rendered community health
years upon the effectivity of this
ition or registration status, must

by TESDA or its accredited
alent national certification. Only

those who have obtained the equivalent national certification

shall be eligible for empl

SECTION 9. Cri
Hiring Process. - The
Health and the Civil Servi
and non-mandatory posit

ment.

ition of Community Health Team Positions and
ent of Budget and Management, Department of
Commission shall jointly determine the mandatory
s including the number of plantilla items needed to

6



(a) Primary Health Care Worker:

(b) Community Nutrition Worker:

(c) Community Population Worker:

(d) Environmental Health/Disaster W.

implement this Act. The
shall process the hiring 0
existing Civil Service rul
hiring. Provided that, all
have met the qualification

artment of Health Selection and Promotion Board
1e Community Health Team personnel, pursuant to
regulations, issuances and orders on placement and
isting BHWs, upon the effectivity of this Act, who
under Section 8-subparagraph (b) hereof shall be

given preference in hiring and priority in placement.

SECTION 10. CHW: Dut
Workers (BHW) shall perform

ties and Responsibilities. - The Barangay Health
the following duties and responsibilities either

independently or corroboratively with the CHT, such as but not limited to:

1
2.

Monitoring and follow up of di

Reporting to the BHC any
community;

activities;
Gathering data about the heal
the same to the BHC;
Administering first aid;
Conducting health visits;
Sputum collection (assistive);
Identifying people with
. Health community profi
10. Strengthening the health

wewrr dan

1. Height and weight monitoring,
Growth monitoring and prom
Infant and young child feedin;

Nutrition counseling;

wena

Supplementary feeding

1. Family health profiling through
2. Support to the population mi
family planning, such as mod

1. Standards of water safety moni
2. Air pollution monitoring;
3. Sewerage preservation;

Micro nutrient supplementation;

efaulters, and reporting the same to the BHC;

incidence of disease or any health cases in the

Communicating and coordinating with the community to participate in BHC

of the community, filing, encoding, and reporting

and sickness;

d,

s of the government.

and reporting the same to the BHC;
ion;

J pean;

and

a comprehensive population database;and
ement program of the government specifically
methods including natural and artificial methods.

er:
itoring and maintenance;


Solid waste management;
Ensure environmental health in the community;

Psychosocial debriefing for stress and post ~ calamity initiatives;
Responding in natural calamities and disasters; and,
Coordination with the Rural Sanitary Inspector (RSI).

PNA

SECTION 11. BHW: Compensation. — The entry pay level of a BHW shall
be the prevailing rate equivalent tq Salary Grade One “SG 1”.

SECTION 12. BHW: Incentives and Benefits. — All members of the
Community Health Team shall be entitled to the same incentives and benefits provided
under the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers. Further, they shall be covered by
the existing statutory benefits such as GSIS, Philhealth, Pag-ibig, 13 Month Pay,
PERA, Performance Incentive Bonus, cash gift, uniform allowance, and hazard pay.

SECTION 13. Right to Self — Organization. — The right of a BHW to self —
organization shall not be abridged.

SECTION 14. Penal Provision. — Any person who violates any provisions of
this Act, either through malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance, shall be liableto a
fine of not less than three hundred thousand pesos (P300, 000.00) nor more than five
hundred thousand pesos (P500, 000.00) and/or imprisonment of not less than one (1)
year nor more than six (6) years upon discretion of the court: Without prejudice to any
administrative liability.

SECTION 15. Impleme:
effectivity of this Act, the DOH-
participation of various health
implement the BHW training

ting Agencies. — Within one (1) year from the
LHD, in coordination with TESDA and with the
jion representatives, shall formulate, finalize, and
, assessment, and national certification program.

The Department of Health, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), in
coordination with LGU Local Health Board, with the participation of various health
union representatives, shall formulate and provide effective mechanism for the
selection and hiring of BHWs.

‘The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of
Health, shall allocate necessary funds for efficient and effective implementation of this
Act’ sprovisions on compensation, incentives and benefits of the community health
team from the national appropriation funds. Further, the PhilHealth income and Sin Tax
revenues shall be used to fund the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 16. Transitory Provision. — Within one (1) year from the
effectivity of this Act, the TESDA shall allocate funds from their annual appropriations
to immediately implement section|8 - subparagraph (b) of this Act



SECTION 17. Implement
days from the effectivity of this Ac

ing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90)
1, the DOH, CSC, TESDA, League of Municipalities

and Cities, DILG, and DBM, in coordination and participation of various health union

representatives, shall provide the

carry out the provisions of this Act.

The Implementing Rules
Gazette or in a newspaper of g

SECTION 18. Separabil
declared unconstitutional, the rem}
and operational

SECTION 19. Repealing
as the "Barangay Health Workers
Decree No. 1569 entitled, “Strenj
for a Barangay Nutrition Scholarin
Other Purposes” are hereby re
issuances, rules and regulations
Act are hereby repealed, amended

SECTION 20. Effectivity.

publication in the Official Gazette
in the Philippines.

Approved,

implementing Rules and Regulations necessary to

\d Regulations shall be published in the Official
circulation

Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be
ining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid

lause. — Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known

efits and Incentives Act of 1995" and Presidential

ening the Barangay Nutrition Program by Providing

[Every Barangay, Providing Funds Therefor, and For

led. All other laws, decrees, orders, circulars,

\d parts thereof which are inconsistent with this
modified accordingly.

~This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
lor in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation