EIGTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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SENATE
S. B. No. 
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'19 
JUL -2 All '55
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
An Act Creating the Com munity Health W orker Education and Training 
Program, Increasing Compensation and Other Benefits for Barangay Health 
W orkers (BHWs), Appropriating Funds Therefor and for other purposes
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution lays down the national health 
policy in this wise: "The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development which shall 
ndeavour to make essential goods, health and other 
social services available to all the people at an affordable cost."
Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) play a critical part of this health and human 
development agenda, providing front-line health services at the community level and 
acting as health educators, community organizers and primary care providers within 
their local villages. Given the dearth of doctors and nurses in rural areas, BHWs are 
often the first line of defense against illnesses, the information source for maternal and 
neonatal care as well as family planning, and also the first responders during periods of 
calamity.
According to latest available data, there are 219,433 active BHWs in the country spread 
out across 42,028 barangays. While some barangays have a sufficient number of BHWs, 
the barangays in far-flung rural areas have only one or two volunteers -  toiling every 
day to provide for the health needs of the barangay residents. Yet, these BHWs are 
considered only volunteers, and the law does not prescribe a fixed allowance for them. 
Nor do they enjoy security of tenure or retirement benefits.
This Act seeks to correct that not only by prescribing a fixed monthly compensation for 
BHWs, but also by introducing a Community Health Worker Education and Training 
Program that will provide training and development programs for BHWs to develop their 
skills and acquire knowledge. The aim of this Act is two-fold: to hone and develop 
deserving BHWs into skilled medical professionals, and second, to ensure a continuous 
supply of grassroots public health workers to respond to the health needs of their 
communities.
The immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROi 
Senator


EIGTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. B. No.
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SENATE
165
■ lO tllfr ot tl!'- :
*19 
JUL -2 A11 ••55
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ANA THERESIA "RISA" HONTIVEROS BARAQUEL
An Act Creating the Com m unity Health W orker Education and Training 
Program, Increasing Compensation and Other Benefits for Barangay Health 
W orkers (BHW), Appropriating Funds Therefor and fo r other purposes
Be it  enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Bibong BHW Act of 2019".
Section 2. Declaration o f Principles. -  It is the policy of the State to 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. In furtherance of this, the State shall endeavor to provide accessible 
and quality health services through barangay health workers as front-liners in 
community-based health interventions.
Section 3. Coverage, - The provisions of this Act shall be applicable to all barangay 
health workers under Republic Act No. 7883. For the purposes of this Act, the term 
barangay health worker shall refer to a person who has undergone training program 
under any accredited government or non-government organization primarily to render 
health care services, pursuant to Republic Act No. 7883.
Section 4. S ix-m onth Education and Training Program fo r Com munity-based 
Health Workers. -  The Department of Health, in coordination with the University of 
the Philippines, shall develop a competency-based education and training curriculum for 
all barangay health workers. The curriculum shall 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 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, traditional and herbal medicine and reflexology shall also be offered.
Section 6. Accreditation and Competency Assessm ent -  The Department of 
Health, in coordination with local governments and the Civil Service Commission, shall 
conduct a competency assessment test upon completion of the Education and Training 
Program, provided that this requirement shall be waived for those who have served as 
Barangay Health Workers for five (5) or more years. Only those who have passed the


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assessment test or have served as BHWs for five years or more will be accredited. The 
Provincial Health Board, with the participation of TESDA, PhilHealth, and accredited 
training NGOs, is hereby mandated to carry out the accreditation of Barangay Health 
Workers.
Section 7. Program Cost and Cost Sharing fo r Local Governm ent 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 DOH for the implementation of the basic course on Barangay Health Work 
depending on the income level of the concerned local government units.
Section 8. Compensation and O ther Incentives. -  All accredited Barangay Health 
Workers shall be entitled to a monthly basic pay of six thousand pesos (PhP6,000.00). 
They shall likewise be entitled to the incentives and benefits provided under the Magna 
Carta for Public Health Workers, and shall be covered by all existing statutory benefits 
such as PAG-IBIG, GSIS and Philhealth. In addition, they shall be given burial and 
disability assistance in case of death or if the BHW is afflicted by illness which results to 
disability, especially if such occurs in the duration of his service. A regular adjustment in 
monetary and other non-monetary incentives shall be made to help improve the living 
condition of Barangay Health Workers.
A BHW who has served less than five (5) years upon the passage of this Act will be 
given a pro-rated amount based on years of service. S/he will be given first priority in 
enlisting for the Education and Training Program.
Section 9. Compensation based on Philhealth utilization. - Philhealth is directed 
to develop a compensation package for accredited BHWs based on Philhealth utilization 
for programs including but not limited to social health insurance navigation, maternal 
neo-natal child health care and nutrition, primary care packages, rehabilitation and 
recovery of senior citizens and 
Persons with 
Disability (PWD), 
provided that 
compensation received from Philhealth will be over and above the monthly basic pay.
Section 10. M andatory Continuing Com munity-based Health Education. -  The
DOH, in cooperation with TESDA, will formulate a module for Mandatory Continuing 
Community-based Health Education (MCCHE). Each accredited BHW will be required 
undergo an MCCHE at least every three (3) years of active service, or as warranted by 
the DOH.
Section 11. Im plem enting Agencies. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of 
this Act, the TESDA and DOH, with the participation of various health union 
representatives shall formulate, finalize and launch the BHW education training 
program, assessment, and national certification program. The Department of Interior 
and Local Government (DILG), 
DOH, LGUs, and other appropriate government 
agencies, with the participation of various health union representatives, shall provide 
the Implementing Rules and Regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act. The Implementing Rules and Regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette 
or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Section 
12. 
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.
Section 13. S eparability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared


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unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and 
operational.
Section 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances, rules 
and regulations and parts thereof which are inconsistent with this act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Section 15. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspaper of general circulation in 
the 
Philippines.
Approved,