NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. No. J^393
Senate
of tijf fbctiPl-ir^i
1st KIT 13 P6 38
RECEIVED 8V:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS IN BARANGAYS, AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR DUTIES AND 
RESPONSIBILITIES, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution ensures that "The State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them".
At the forefront of this mandate are the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), who 
are strongly connected with the health concerns of their communities. BHWs are the 
ones who are most familiar, to most extent to a personal level, to the health and 
medical history of their constituents. Given their direct and experiential knowledge, 
BHWs are very instrumental in providing primary health care at their locality.
According to the National BHW Registry System of the Department of Health, 
there are 241,282 active BHWs in the entire country as of 2020. As frontliners in the 
Primary Health Care Approach, BHWs are entrusted with crucial tasks ranging from 
administering first aid and community-based immunizations; maternal, neonatal and 
child care; family planning and nutrition, and other health and wellness activities of 
their respective barangays.
In recognition of the contribution of BHWs in our health system. Republic Act 
No. 7883, otherwise known as" The Barangay Health Workers'Benefits and Incentives 
Act of1995' granted benefits and incentives to accredited BHWs for their voluntary


community service. The law provides for special civil service eligibility to BHWs, under 
certain conditions, which can qualify them for permanent positions in the government. 
However, the position of a BHW remains to be on a voluntary basis. They merely 
receive allowances and do not enjoy security of tenure. There is, therefore, a 
remarkable irony between the significant role that they play and the value that is given 
to them by the government. Despite these inequities, BHWs continue to perform their 
duties with immeasurable commitment.
Inevitably, our country will continue to face challenges in health and nutrition. 
The scope and gravity are beyond our foresight but one fact remains certain - our 
health system is devolved and we will definitely be relying on the services of the BHWs 
in addressing them. It is important that we empower and capacitate our BHWs to 
make them more competent and effective in performing the duties that we have 
entrusted to them.
This measure seeks to mandate the appointment of BHWs in every barangay 
by the city or municipal government. Consequently, BHWs shall enjoy security of 
tenure with entry pay level of Salary Grade 1, and benefits and allowances similar to 
those granted to Public Health Workers provided under RA 7883 and Republic Act No. 
7305, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Public Health Worker^'.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is most earnestly sought.
RAMON B(3N(r REVILLA, 3R
lH


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1393
\ Senate
ot t!ic
*22 OCT 13 P6 38
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS IN BARANGAYS, AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR DUTIES AND 
RESPONSIBILITIES, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Health
2 
Workers Act of2022'.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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protect and promote the right to health of the people by providing the conditions of
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health empowerment, where each individual has adequate access to information and
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services that will bring about health and well-being, and by delivering effective health
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care programs and services based on the needs of the communities.
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Towards this end, the State recognizes that the Primary Health Care Approach
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is an effective strategy towards realizing health empowerment and effective health
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care programs and services through community-based participatory strategies. The
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State recognizes, moreover, the indispensable role of Barangay Health Workers as the
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frontliners in the Primary Health Care Approach; and the importance of strengthening
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and systematizing their services, and of providing them just compensation, consistent
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with the principle of equal pay for equal work and work of equal value.
15 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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a. Barangay Health Worker (BHW) shall refer to a person who is appointed
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to act as a health worker in a barangay unit in accordance with Section
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4 hereof; and.


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b. Public Health Worker (PHW) shall be as defined under Section 3 of the
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Republic Act No. 7305 or "Magna Carta for Public Health Workers"as
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referring to ail persons who are engaged in health and health-related
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work, all persons employed in all hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries,
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health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics, and
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other health related establishments owned and operated by the
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Government or its political subdivisions with original charters and shall
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include medical, allied health professional, administrative and support
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personnel employed regardless of their employment status.
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Sec. 4. Appointment and Qualifications. — There shall be appointed in each
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barangay such number of BHWs as the Department of Health (DOH) shall determine
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and recommend in consideration of the number of households in a barangay:
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Provided, That the total number of BHWs per barangay shall not be less than three
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(3) nor more than one percent (1%) of the barangay's total population. The city or
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municipal mayor, as the case may be, shall appoint the BHWs in all barangays in the
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city or municipality on the strength of their accreditation by the local health board:
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Provided, That the local health board shall only issue accreditation to the following:
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a. A person who has completed the BHW training program of the DOH, or
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the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), or
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undergone a training specific for BHW by a TESDA-accredited or DOH-
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accredited institution, and has passed the BHW training assessment, and
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obtained the equivalent certification;
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b. All active BHWs at the time of the effectivity of this Act, regardless of
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accreditation or training status, who have previously served for at least
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one (1) year: Provided, That they undergo and pass the BHW
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assessment by DOH/TESDA-accredited assessors, and obtained the
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equivalent certification.
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All active and existing BHWs accredited by the local health board under Republic Act
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No. 7883 shall be given preference in the appointment of BHWs pursuant to this Act.
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Sec. 5. Duties and Responsibilities. - The BHWs shall perform in their respective
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barangays the following duties and responsibilities:


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a. Those which the DOH, or the city, municipality or barangay Sanggunian
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shall provide by ordinance, subject to the guidelines to be promulgated
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jointly by the DOH and the Department of Interior and Local Government
4 
(DILG), in connection with the delivery of basic and primary health care
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services, the implementation of family planning, feeding and nutrition,
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and immunization programs, disaster response and mitigation,
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sanitation programs, and anti-drug abuse rehabilitation and information
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campaigns, and the establishment of national or local health
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management information systems;
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b. Provide assistance to physicians, dentists, nurses, nutritionists, or
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midwives who are employed, stationed, or are otherwise providing
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services at the barangay health center, daycare center or birthing
13 
center;
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c. Administer first aids, and respond in natural calamities and disaster; and,
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d. Gather data about the health profile of the barangay, incidence of
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communicable or chronic diseases, environmental or health hazards in
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the barangay, and other public health-relevant events or information,
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and report the same to the local health board.
19 
Sec. 6. Compensation and Benefits. - The entry pay level of a BHW shall be the
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prevailing rate equivalent to Salary Grade One (SG 1). BHWs shall also be entitled to
21 
the following standards, incentives, and benefits provided for Public Health Workers
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under the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers:
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a. Normal hours of work;
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b. Overtime pay for overtime work;
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c. Rest day;
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d. Night Shift differential pay;
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e. Hazard allowance;
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f. Subsistence allowance;
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g. Longevity pay;
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h. Free medical examination;
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i. Compensation for injuries;
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j. Leave benefits;


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ii.
III.
k. Retirement pay; and
l. 
Right to self-organization.
Further, BHWs shall be covered by the existing statutory benefits such as GSIS, 
PhilHealth, and PAGIBIG, and be entitled to the following additional benefits:
a. Training, Education and Career Enrichment Programs. - The DOH, in 
coordination with the DILG, other government departments, agencies and non­
government organizations, shall provide opportunities for the following:
i. Educational programs that shall recognize years of primary health care 
service as credits to higher education in institutions with stepladder 
curricula, which will entitle BHWs to upgrade their skills and knowledge 
for community work, or to pursue further training as midwives, 
pharmacists, nurses or doctors;
Continuing education, study and exposure tours, training, grants, field 
immersion, scholarship, etc.; and
Special training programs such as those on traditional medicine, disaster 
response and preparedness, and other programs that address emergent 
community health problems and issues.
b. Free Legal Services. - Legal representation and consultation services for BHWs 
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.
c. Preferential Access to Loans. - The DOH, in coordination with other concerned 
government agencies, shall provide a mechanism for access to loan services by 
organized BHWs. The agencies providing loan services will set aside one 
percent (1%) of their loanable funds for organized BHW groups that have 
community-based income generating projects in support of health programs or 
activities.
Sec. 7. Security of Tenure. - All duly appointed BHWs shall not be terminated, 
except for cause provided under existing civil service rules and regulations, and only 
after due notice and hearing: Provided, That if a BHW is found by the Civil Service 
Commission to be unjustly dismissed from work, they shall be entitled to reinstatement


1 
without loss of seniority rights and to back wages with twelve percent (12%) interest
2 
computed from the time their compensation was withheld from him/her up to the time
3 
of reinstatement.
4 
Sec. 8. Implementing Agencies. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of
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this Act, the DOH, DILG, TESDA, and local government units shall immediately
6 
appropriate funds necessary for the full implementation of this Act. Within the same
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period, the DOH, DILG and TESDA shall formulate, launch and institutionalize the BHW
8 
training program, assessment, and national certification program.
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Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within three (3) months from
10 
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, DILG, in consultation with the local government
11 
units, and existing health workers union and BHW organizations, shall promulgate the
12 
implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances, rules
14 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
15 
amended or modified accordingly.
16 
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
17 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall
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remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
21 
general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,