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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Biiwo. 5541

Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Art. II, Section 15 of the Constitution states that: “The State shall protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them.” Health is a foremost concern given the consequences that follow if it
is not properly monitored. Children would not be able to school, employees would
be unable to work, and many vital functions in society would not be done if the
individuals responsible for them would be sick.

Hence, there is a paramount consideration when it comes to measures
ensuring that the population remains healthy. However, access to health services
remain a challenge for policymakers. Besides the high price for mere consultations,
the costs of medicines remain relatively high despite legislation to make such
cheaper. Thus, even vulnerable families would opt to walk off disease because their
budgetary constraints would not allow for one to see a doctor.

This is where barangay health workers come into the picture. Barangay
health workers are amongst the frontline personnel in dealing with health in our
communities. Coupled with sanitation services, barangay health workers enable
the State to pursue and implement its preventive policies to ensure that each
community is safe from illness.

Thus, it is only proper and right that the State should properly compensate
our barangay health workers for the tireless and important work that they do. To
ensure that each Filipino household is free from sickness, we must turn to our
barangay health workers for the task at hand.

It is for these foregoing premises that the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

. DELOS SANTOS
Representatiy€, Ang Probinsyano Party List


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bri no. 59941

Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos

AN ACT
MANDAATING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE (1)
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER ASSIGNED TO EACH FAMILY, INCREASING
‘THEIR SALARIES AND BENEFITS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Provision of Barangay Health Worker, - There shall be provided
at least one (1) health worker in every barangay assigned to each family throughout
the country. Such health worker shall be under the control and supervision of the
Department of Health (DOH) in close coordination with the Local Government
Health Officer. As far as practicable, the barangay health worker to be employed
must be living in the barangay where he/she is to be assigned, or within the city or
municipality in which the barangay is to be found.

SECTION 2. Salary Grade and Other Benefits. - The barangay health worker
shall receive monthly salary and benefits equivalent to a salary grade not lower
than SG10 pursuant to the current Salary Standardization Law in place for
government employees. In addition, the barangay health worker shall be entitled to
a Christmas bonus equivalent to their one (1) month salary, and all the benefits
granted to other barangay employees within their city or municipality, including
incentives and benefits under Republic Act No. 7883.

SECTION 3. Appropriations. - The sum of Twenty Million Pesos
(Php20,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial implementation of this
Act. Such amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this
Act shall be included and integrated in the General Appropriations Act as part of
the budget of the DOH.

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH shall
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60)
days from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 5. Repeating Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, and
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby amended or modified accordingly.


Nousene

SECTION 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,