Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5o

HOUSE BILL NO: _—

A

Introduced by REP. ALFREDO “ALBEE” B. BENITEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution guarantees the protection and promotion of the health of
its citizens and declares that the State shall endeavor to make health services available
to everyone. As such, the role of health workers for the country is crucial in the delivery
of health services,

The health sector in the Philippines is beset by the exodus of nurses and doctors
seeking higher-paying jobs abroad leading to poor delivery of health services in the
country, especially in the rural areas. In 2009 alone, a total of 13,465 nurses were hired
abroad (POEA, 2009). Nurse to patient ratio in the country is now at 1:40 up to 1:80 as
oppose to the mandated 1:20 ratio.

‘Thus, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) are being utilized increasingly in the
delivery of health services especially in the remote and rural areas because of the
existing health sector's human resource crisis.

The crucial and heroic role that BHWs play makes them deserving of much more
than what they are receiving today.

This proposed measure aims to provide a reasonable set of incentives to BHWs
to compensate them for the work that they perform in making health services accessible
to all. This bill will enhance the benefits provided to BHWs by virtue of Republic Act
7883 by providing among others, a fixed honoraria, and health and insurance coverage
under Philhealth and GSIS.

The passage of this proposed measure will not only grant due recognition to the
valuable services that BHWs render, but will hopefully encourage more people to serve
as BHWs in their localities, Such increase in the number of BHWs would contribute
positively to the goal of government for a more effective delivery of health services and
make health care accessible to all.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

ALFREDO “ALBEE” B. BENITEZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5a

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. ALFREDO “ALBEE” B, BENITEZ

AN ACT GRANTING FIXED HONORARIA AND ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES AND
BENEFITS TO BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE QE-
REPUBLIC ACT 7883 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS
INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS ACT OF 1995,

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

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

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

a) HONORARIA - ALL ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS SHALL
BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY HONORARIA OF THREE THOUSAND PESOS
(P 3,000.00)

b) Hazard Allowance. - Volunteer barangay health workers in rural and urban
areas, exposed to situations, conditions, or factors in the work environment
or place where foreseeable but unavoidable danger or risks exist which
adversely endanger his health or life and/or increase the risk of producing
adverse effect on his person in the exercise of his duties, to be validated by
the proper authorities, shall be entitled to hazard allowance in an amount to
be determined by the local health board and the local peace and order council
of the local government unit concerned BUT IN NO CASE LESS THAN ONE
THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00);

©) Subsistence Allowance Barangay Health Workers who rendered services
within the premises of isolated health stations in order to make their services
available at any and all times shall be entitled to a monthly subsistence
allowance, which shall be computed in accordance with the prevailing
circumstances as determined by the local government unit concerned BUT IN
NO CASE LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00);


d) COMPULSORY PHILHEALTH COVERAGE. - ALL BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS, WHO HAVE RENDERED AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS OF
SERVICE, SHALL BE ENROLLED IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM TO RECEIVE AND AVAIL OF AN ADEQUATE PACKAGE OF
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT MUST INCLUDE IN-PATIENT
HOSPITAL CARE, OUT-PATIENT CARE, EMERGENCY AND TRANSFER
SERVICES, AND ALSO OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY HEALTH BENEFITS AS
MAY BE DEFINED BY THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE
CORPORATION (PHIC) AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMET UNIT (LGU)
WHERE THEY RENDER SERVICES;

e) INSURANCE COVERAGE - ALL BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS, WHO
HAVE RENDERED AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS OF SERVICE, SHALL BE
GRANTED INSURANCE COVERAGE BY THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INSUSRANCE SYSTEM (GSIS) OR ANY ACCREDITED INSURANCE
COMPANY IN AN AMOUNT NOT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND PESOS
(P10,000.00);

f) Training Education and Career Enrichment Programs x x x
g) Civil service Eligibility xxx

h) Free Legal Services - Legal representation and consultation services for
barangay health workers shall be immediately provided by the Public
Attorney's office (PAO) in cases of coercion, interference and in other civil
and criminal cases filed by or against barangay health workers arising out of
or in connection with the performance of their duties as such. THE DOH
SHALL ALSO ENDEAVOR TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT (MOA) WITH THE INTEGRATED BAR ASSOCIATION OF THE
PHILIPPINES (IBP) TO ALLOW LAWYERS WHO WILL PROVIDE FREE
LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO BHWs BE GRANTED MANDATORY CONTINUING
LEGAL EDUCATION (MCLE) CREDITS;

i) SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO DEPENDENTS OF BHWs. - COLLEGE
SCHOLARSHIPS TO ANY STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OR TESDA
SCHOLARSHIPS SHALL BE GRANTED TO A MAXIMUM OF TWO (2)
CHILDREN TO ALL BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS, WHO HAVE
RENDERED AT LEAST ONE (1) YEAR OF SERVICE.

j) Preferential Access to Loans ~ x xx“

SEC. 2. There shall be additional sections after Section 7 of the Republic Act 7883
shall be added to read as follows:

“SEC. 8. RETIREMENT AGE - THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE
FOR BHWs SHALL BE 65 EARS OLD. HOWEVER, AN OPTIONAL RETIREMENT
SHALL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE REACHED 60 TO 64
YEARS OF AGE. ACCRREDITED BHWs QUALIFIED UNDER THIS PROVISION
CAN AVAIL OF THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS UNDER GSIS.


SEC. 9, BHW REGISTRY - THE CHDS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE IN
COLLECTING INFORMATION AND UPDATING THE BHW REGISTRY IN THEIR
RESPECTIVE REGIONS AND SHALL SUBMIT AN UPDATED COPY TO THE DOH
CENTRAL OFFICE EVERY YEAR. THE CENTRAL OFFICE SHALL BE
RESPONSIBLE IN MAINTAINING THE NATIONAL BHW REGISTRY, WHICH
SHALL BE THE REFERENCE OF AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE PROVISION OF
INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS TO THE BHWs.

SEC. 10. COMMON PROVISIONS ~

A. PREMIUM PAYMENTS FOR THE BENEFITS OF BHWS 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.

B. ANY EXPENDITURE BY LGUS FOR THE BENEFITS OF BHWS
SHALL BE EXEMPTED FROM THE FORTY FIVE PERCENT (45%)
LIMIT ON THE ALLOCATION FOR PERSONAL SERVICES OF
LGUS.”

SEC. 3, Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of Health, in
consultation with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Civil Service
Commission, CHED, TESDA, GSIS and the National Confederation of Barangay Health
Workers, shall prepare within one hundred and eighty (180) days the necessary rules
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. Rules and regulations issued
pursuant to this section shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a
newspaper of general circulation.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the
remainder or any of this provision hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and
effect.

SEC. 5. 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. 6. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.