Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4395
HOUSE BILL No.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ANTONINO G. CALIXTO

Explanatory Note

Article XIIl Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that “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.”

By virtue of the Title | Section 17 of the Local Government Code, deliveries of health care services
were devolved to the local government unit (LGU), aiming for self-reliant LGUs to deliver more direct and
immediate health care services to the people. At the forefront of primary health care delivery are the
barangay health workers or BHW. As front liners, BHWs are entrusted with primary health care delivery but
the benefits and incentives they receive are not commensurate with the heavy responsibilities they bear.

Republic Act 7883 or the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995 allowed for
the institutionalization of remuneration for our BHWs but the law has to be updated to present realities.
Apart from the hazard and subsistence allowances enshrined in RA 7883, our BHWs nationwide receive
somewhere between P100 to P2, 000 monthly honorarium depending on the discretion of the local leaders.
Although BHWs are categorized as. volunteers, such irregular and measly amount does not give them
dignity and recognition they deserved for the valuable work they do. Having to depend on the whims of the
local leaders for the amount of their honorarium further demoralize the BHWs as they are often at the
mercy of politicians and are often caught in political clashes.

This bill aims to provide fixed monthly honorarium, cash gifts, separation pay and disability benefits
to all accredited BHWs. It seeks to ensure that amounts provided in the measure will be adjusted to present
realities based on Consumer Price Indices (CPI), upon review and approval of the local health board.

In view of the foregoing, and in support of our dedicated and committed accredited BHWs, the
passage of this bill is earnestly sought. :

Zz f ese.
ANTONINO G. CALIXTO

Representative
Lone District of Pasay City


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4395

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ANTONINO G. CALIXTO

AN ACT GRANTING A FIXED MONTHLY HONORARIA AND ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO
ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE SECTION 6 OF
REPUBLIC ACT 7883 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BARANGYA HEALTH WORKERS’ BENEFITS

AND INCENTIVES ACT OF 1995

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — Section 6 of Republic Act 7883 otherwise known as the “Barangay Health
Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995” is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 6. Incentives and Benefits — In recognition of their service, all accredited barangay health
workers who are actively and regularly performing their duties shall be entitled to the following
incentives and benefits:

HONORARIA - ALL ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO A FIXED MONTHLY HONORARIA OF FOUR THOUSAND PESOS
(P4,000).

CASH GIFT - ALL ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS SHALL RECEIVE A
CASH GIFT OF TWO THOUSAND PESOS (P2,000) TO BE GIVEN EVERY DECEMBER.

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SEPARATION PAY - ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS WHO HAVE
SERVED FOR TEN (10) YEARS AND ABOVE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO TWO
THOUSAND PESOS (P2,000) FOR EVERY YEAR OF SERVICE.

d) DISABILITY BENEFIT - ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS WHO
SUSTAIN INJURY OR SICKNESS ARISING OUT OF AND IN THE COURSE OF
PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO TWO THOUSAND PESOS
(P2,000) FOR EVERY YEAR OF SERVICE

e) Hazard Allowance — xx

k) Preferential Access to Loans — 0x

SUCH INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS, MAY BE INCREASED, UPON REVIEW AND APPROVAL
OF THE LOCAL HEALTH BOARD, AFTER CONSIDERING AMONG OTHERS, PRESENT
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI), AS PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE
(NSO)


SECTION 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of Health, in cooperation with the
Department of Interior and Local Government, and other concerned government agencies, shall formulate,
within one hundred eighty days (180) from its effectivity, the rules and regulations necessary to implement
this Act.

SECTION 3. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, the
remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official
Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,