Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _1684

"Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan _

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF AT LEAST ONE (1) BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKER IN EVERY BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7160 OR THE “LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that: "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 affordable cost."

By virtue of Section 17 of Title I of the 1991 Local Government Code, the delivery of
basic services and facilities such as health and social welfare services were devolved to the
local government units down to the barangay level. Thus, the barangay health centers and
daycare centers are maintained with the help of barangay health workers who voluntarily
render primary health care services to the community.

It is, however, ironic that while barangay health workers are the front-liners in
providing health care services to the community, there is no existing mechanism to secure
that all barangays are equipped with the services of their own barangay health worker.

Hence, this bill mandates the appointment of barangay health workers in every
barangay throughout the country. The barangay health workers shall be appointed by the
municipal or city mayor, after proper accreditation with the local health board. Further, the
barangay health worker shall be entitled to allowances and such other benefits accorded to
other appointed barangay officials.

More importantly, this measure seeks to provide barangay health workers security of
tenure in order to strengthen the capacity of barangays to deliver basic health services to
the community and afford the barangay health workers their well-deserved entitlements
and benefits.

in view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

i a

Keith Mjcah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan
4th District, Quezon



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 1684

~~ Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF AT LEAST ONE (1) BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKER IN EVERY BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7160 OR THE “LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991” 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 as the “Barangay Health Workers
Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987
Philippine Constitution, the State hereby declares the policy of according utmost importance
to the health needs of the nation and shall henceforth endeavor to make essential goods,
health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. Toward this
end, the State shall ensure that accessible and quality health services are extended to each
individual through the barangay health workers as the primary channel for implementing
the State’s health policies down to the barangay level. Thus, to secure the availability and
delivery of barangay health needs, the State shall guarantee the appointment of barangay
health workers in every barangay as frontline health workers.

SEC. 3. Section 387 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991 as amended, shall be further amended to read as follows:

“Section 387. Chief Officials and Officers. - (a) There shall be in each barangay a
punong barangay, seven (7) sangguniang barangay members, the sangguniang kabataan
chairman, a barangay secretary, [and] a barangay treasurer, AND AT LEAST ONE (1)
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER.”

XXX

SEC. 4. A new provision shall be inserted between Sections 395 and 396 of Republic
Act No, 7160 to be denominated as Section 395-A which shall read as follows:

“SECTION 395-A. APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATIONS AND BENEFITS OF BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS. - ANY PROVISIONS OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY NOTWITHSTANDING,
NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY MAYOR AS BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKER PURSUANT TO THIS ACT UNLESS HE OR SHE HAS COMPLETED AT
LEAST SECONDARY EDUCATION. SUCH REQUIREMENTS SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO THE
QUALIFICATIONS PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 3 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883 OR THE
“BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS’ BENEFIT AND INCENTIVES ACT OF 1995”. PROVIDED,


THAT THOSE BARANGAY HEALTH WOR' ‘Ss WHO HAVE RENDERED MORE THAN TEN
(10) YEARS OF SERVICE AND EXHIBITED EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE AS DETERMINED
BY THE LOCAL HEALTH BOARD, SHALL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE
MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT.

A BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO ALLOWANCES AND SUCH
OTHER BENEFITS TO WHICH OTHER APPOINTED BARANGAY OFFICIALS MAY BE
ENTITLED TO. NO PERSON DULY APPOINTED AS A BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER SHALL
BE REMOVED EXCEPT FOR VALID CAUSE AS PROVIDED UNDER EXISTING CIVIL SERVICE
RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ONLY AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING.

SEC. 5. Section 393, paragraphs (a) and (b) of the Local Government Code of the
Philippines, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Section 393. Benefits of Barangay Officials. - (a) Barangay officials, including
barangay tanods and members of the lupong tagapamayapa, shall receive honoraria,
allowances, and such other emoluments as may be authorized by law or barangay,
municipal, or city ordinance in accordance with the provisions of this Code, but in no case
shall it be less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) per month for the punong barangay
and Six Hundred Pesos (P600.00) per month for the sangguniang barangay members,
barangay treasurer, [and] barangay secretary AND BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS:
Provided, however that the annual appropriations for personal services shall be subject to
the budgetary limitations prescribed under Title Five, Book II of this Code; PROVIDED
FURTHERMORE, THAT THE BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THIS CODE SHALL BE WITHOUT
PREJUDICE TO THE APPLICATION OF AND ENTITLEMENT TO OTHER INCENTIVES AND.
BENEFITS FOR BARANGAY OFFICIALS AS MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW SUCH AS REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 6942 OR “AN ACT INCREASING THE INSURANCE BENEFITS OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR” AND REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7883 OR THE "BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS’ BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT OF 1995."

(b) The punong barangay, the sangguniang barangay members, the barangay
treasurer, [and] the barangay secretary AND THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER shall also:

(1) Be entitled to Christmas bonus of at least One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) each,
the funds for which shall be taken from the general fund of the barangay or from such other
funds appropriated by the National Government for the purpose;

(2) Be entitled, during their incumbency, to insurance coverage which shall include,
but shall not be limited to temporary and permanent disability, double indemnity, accident
insurance, death and burial benefits, in accordance with Republic Act Numbered Sixty-nine
hundred forty-two (R.A. No. 6942), entitled “An Act Increasing the Insurance Benefits of
Local Government Officials and Providing Funds Therefor”;

(3) Be entitled to free medical care including subsistence, medicines, and medical
attendance in any government hospital or institution: Provided, That such hospital care shall
include surgery or surgical expenses, medicines, X-rays, laboratory fees, and other hospital
expenses;

XXX

SEC. 6. Health Education and Training Program for Appointive Barangay Health
Workers. - The Department of Health shall develop a competency-based training program


for all appointive barangay health workers. They shall undergo intensive training as
healthcare provider, community organizer, health service manager, trainer and educator,
and researcher. The program shail 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, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency
virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) prevention,
nutrition, physical therapy, traditional and herbal medicine and reflexology shall also be
offered.

SEC. 7. Mandatory Continuing Community-Based Health Education. - The Department
of Health, in consultation with appropriate agencies, shall formulate a module for
Mandatory Continuing Community-Based Health Education (MCCHE). Appointive barangay
health workers shall be required to undergo an MCCHE at least every three (3) years of
active service or as may be required by the DOH.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The funds needed to implement the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and Local
Government, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission and other concerned
agencies, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not effected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and
administrative regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC, 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,