Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

09

1
House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. LAWRENCE LEMUEL H. FORTUN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 9, Article 1! of the 1987 Philippine Constitution affirms the State’s role in promoting a just and
dynamic social order through “policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment,
a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.”

The role of the barangay, as the smallest unit of government, is essential to the development of the
nation. Section 384 of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the barangay “serves as the
primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects and activities
in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed,
crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled.” The successful
implementation of government programs, projects and activities at the barangay level translates into
success at the national level, considering that these run parallel to the national government's efforts for
an improved quality of life for all.

This bill seeks to strengthen the barangay unit by setting the appropriate amount to be received as
honoraria, providing additional benefits and mandating capacity-building programs for our barangay
volunteer workers ~ specifically the barangay tanod, the barangay health worker, and the barangay
nutrition scholar. Although the Local Budget Circular No. 63 of the Department of Budget and
Management, provides that honorarium, allowances or other emoluments may be provided for our
barangay tanods as long as they do not exceed the minimum salary rate for SG-1, no minimum amount
has been fixed for an acceptable honoraria for their service. In the same light, no amount has been set in
the provision of allowances for our health workers. Likewise, the allowances as set for our nutrition
scholars, having been determined way back in 1978, are in dire need of adjustment. As all three are
classified as volunteers who regularly provide frontline services to their communities, fixing the
honorarium they receive to 75% of the minimum wage in the area where their barangay is situated. This
amount is equivalent to what government interns receive for the work they provide in the duration of
their internship since they are not considered regular employees and are thus not entitled to full salary
and benefits. Additional benefits such as Philhealth coverage and free legal assistance should also be
made available to them. While they are considered volunteers, they are actually frontline government
workers responsible for the implementation of government programs at the grassroots level.



‘The barangay is at the foreforont in the delivery of government services. It is thus imperative
that our barangay volunteer workers who are given the critical tasks of maintenance of peace and order
and delivery of health care services in the communities are well-equipped and adequately compensated.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 19

Introduced by REP. LAWRENCE LEMUEL H. FORTUN

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY UNIT BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO BARANGAY
SECURITY, HEALTH AND NUTRITION WORKERS, AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1569,
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 and cited as the “Barangay Security, Health
and Nutrition Workers’ Benefits Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Section 9, Article Il of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,
provides that the State shall create policies for the provision of adequate social services,
Promotion of full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.
It is, thus, hereby declared the policy of the State to empower and strengthen our barangay
security, health and nutrition workers as the frontliners in the provision of government services
at the barangay level. The State acknowledges the need to adopt measures and incentive
schemes to ensure that our volunteer workers at the smallest political unit of the government
are properly compensated and capacitated to perform their official duties and functions.

SEC. 3. Coverage. ~ Every Barangay Tanod, Barangay Health Worker (BHW) and Barangay
Nutrition Scholar (BNS) shall be automatically covered by this Act.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following shall mean:

a. Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) refers to one (1) barangay based volunteer worker in
every barangay responsible for delivering nutrition services and other related activities
such as community health, backyard food production, environmental sanitation,
culture, mental feeding, and family planning to the barangay, as defined in P.D. No.
1569;

b. Barangay Health Worker (BHW) shall refer to a person who has undergone training
programs under any accredited government and non-government organization and who


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voluntarily renders primary health care 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), as defined in Republic Act
No. 7883 or the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995; and

c. Barangay Tanod shall refer to all duly appointed members of the barangay tanod
brigades, which shall number not more than twenty (20) in each barangay as prescribed
by Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

SEC. 5. Honorarium. — Honorarium shall be given by the National Government for services
rendered by the Barangay Volunteer Workers covered under this Act in the amount equivalent
to 75% of the existing minimum wage, in accordance with the salary schedule being
implemented by the city or municipality where the barangay is located. Said amount shall be
Part of the budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for members of
the Barangay Tanod Brigades and the Department of Health (DOH) for the BHWs and BNS.

SEC. 6. Additional Benefits. — In recognition of their services, volunteers shall be provided the
following benefits and incentives:

1. Philhealth coverage, which shall include medical examination and treatment in
government hospitals, and fully subsidized by the Local Government Units or through
cost-sharing mechanisms between LGUs and other sponsors: Provided, That indigent
barangay volunteers shall be covered through full national government subsidy scheme.

2. Free legal services from government lawyers or private lawyers pursuant to R.A. No.
9999 and Bar Matter No. 2012, for cases arising from acts committed in the
performance of duty: Provided, That such legal services shall continue, even after the
expiration of the term of the Barangay volunteer, until its final disposition;

SEC. 7. Education and Training Programs. - The appropriate government agencies shall
develop a competency-based education and training curricula for the following:

a. Barangay Tanod ~ The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall
implement a program designed to develop the basic skills and expertise needed for the
Barangay Tanod Brigade to perform their commitment as peace and public safety
officers. It shall include basic orientation on the structure and organization of the
barangay system of government, as well as how their duties relate to the overall
governance system. Courses on crime prevention and unarmed defense techniques,
disaster preparedness and management, information operation as service responders,
and first aid shall also be offered. Such program shall be credited for pre-qualification
for a security guard license or qualify the Tanod for accreditation equivalent to civic
welfare service under Republic Act No. 916;

b, Barangay Health Worker - The Department of Health (DOH) shall create a curriculum
that will train the community health workers as healthcare provider, community
organizer, health service manager, trainer and educator, and researcher. It shall include
basic orientation and training on health programs and institutionalized health service


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delivery system, primary healthcare, basic community organizing, local health research,
social health insurance navigation, basic local resource generation and mobilization,
training needs analysis, basic report writing and communication skills, and program
planning and development. Courses on basic dental care, reproductive health, STI and
HIV/AIDS prevention, nutrition, physical therapy, basic life support, traditional and
herbal medicine and reflexology shall also be offered. Such program shall be credited as
units earned in higher education institutions with stepladder curricula that will entitle
BHWs to upgrade their skills and knowledge for community work or to pursue further
training as midwives, pharmacists, nurses or doctors; and

a) Barangay Nutrition Scholar ~ Pursuant to P.D. 1569, the Department of Health, through
the National Nutrition Council, shall adopt a training program on selected topics such as
nutrition, health, food production and environment sanitation, based on defined task
expectations before the BNS does actual barangay service. Basic orientation on
nutrition counseling, organization of mothers’ classes and breastfeeding classes,
managing community-based feeding programs, and promotion of home or community
food gardens, shall also be offered. The BNS shall be granted a civil service eligibility
equivalent to second grade after completing at least two years of continuous and
satisfactory service in the barangay, as provided by P.D. 1569.

SEC. 8. Program Cost and Cost Sharing for Local Government Units. - The basic Education and
Training Program shall be offered free of charge. Local governments shall adopt a cost-sharing
financing scheme with the National Government through the DILG for the Barangay Tanod
Brigades and DOH for BHWs and BNSs for the implementation of the basic courses depending
on the income level of the concerned local government units.

SEC. 9. Funding Source. — An initial allocation of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be
included in the General Appropriations to support the policies and objectives under this Act.
Congress shall provide subsequent appropriations in the annual budget of the Department of
Health from sin tax revenues for BHWs and BNSs.

SEC. 10. Non-diminution of Benefits. — Nothing in this law shall be construed to eliminate or in
any way diminish entitlements, or other benefits being provided to or enjoyed by the Barangay
Tanod under Republic Act No. 7160, the BHW under Republic Act No. 7883 and the BNS under
Presidential Decree No, 1569, or other laws and issuances, at the time of the promulgation of
this Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - DILG, DOH, including the National Nutrition
Council, Local Government Units (LGUs), and other appropriate government agencies, shall
issue the rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act within ninety
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared unconstitutional,
the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and operational.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. — R.A. No. 7851, otherwise known as The Local Government Code,
R.A. No. 7851 or the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995 and


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Presidential Decree No. 1569 which Provides for a Nutrition Scholar in Every Barangay, are
hereby amended accordingly.

All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,