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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3641

Introduced by
Honorable Cristal L.Bagatsing

AN ACT
CREATING THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
PROGRAM, INCREASING COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS FOR BARANGAY
HEALTH WWORKERS (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 endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available
to all the people at an affordable cost.”

Barangay Health Workers are the frontliners for health services of the barangays. Sometimes
they become doctors or nurses since they are within the barangay and the immediate response to
medical needs of the neighborhood in the barangay. They are the first to respond not only in medical
needs of the neighborhood but, also during calamities,

This bill seeks to introduce Education and Training Program for BHWs in order to develop
them into skilled medical practitioner and to ensure the public the continuous supply of public health

workers in order to respond to the needs of their barangay.

The immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

PY EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 3641

Introduced by
Honorable Cristal L.Bagatsing

An Act

Creating the Community Health Worker Education and Training Program,
Increasing Compensation and Other Benefits for Barangay health
Workers (BHW), Appropriating Funds Therefor and for other purposes

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

Section 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “The BHW Act of 2019”.

Section 2. 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 3. Six-month Education and Training Program for Community-
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 provided, community
organizer, health service manager, trainer ad educator, and researcher. It


shall include basic orientation and training on health programs and
institutionalized health service delivery system, primary health care, 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 4. Accreditation and Competency Assessment. - The
Department of Health, in coordination with local government 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
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 5. 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 DOH for the implementation of the basic
course on Barangay Health Work depending on the income level of the
concerned local government units.

Section 6. Compensation and Other Incentives. — All accredited Barangay
Health Workers shall be entitled to a monthly basic pay of six thousand pesos
(P6,000.00). 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 of
Barangay Health Workers.

A BHW ha served less than five (5) years upon the passage of this Act shall
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 7. Compensation based on Philhealth ulitilization. — 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,
priomary 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 8. Mandatory Continuing Community-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 to undergo an MCCHE at least every three (3) years of
active service, or as warranted by the DOH.

Section 9. Implementing 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), DOG, 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 10. 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 11. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be
declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall
remain valid and operational.

Section 12. 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 13. 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,