THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
Third Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
j 
-t. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Chronic diseases, defined as any condition that requires regular medical attention or 
medication, are the leading causes of death and disability for women in the country. According 
to the 2003 Health Statistics from the Department of Health (DOH), the five leading causes of 
death among Filipina women are heart disease, cancer, diabetes, pneumonia and unintentional 
injuries. Poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and alcohol abuse are the health risk 
behaviors that most often lead to disease, premature death, and disability, and are particularly 
prevalent among women. High poverty rates coupled with barriers to health preventive services 
and medical care contribute to disparities in health factors, including premature death, life 
expectancy, risk factors associated with major diseases, and the extent and severity of illnesses. 
There is increasing evidence that early life experiences are associated with adult chronic 
disease and that prevention and intervention services provided within the community and the 
home may lessen the impact of chronic outcomes, while strengthening families and communities. 
Community health workers, who are primarily women, can be a critical component in 
conducting health promotion and disease prevention efforts in medically underserved 
populations. 
Recognizing the difficult barriers confronting medically underserved communities 
(poverty, geographic isolation, language and cultural differences, lack of transportation, low 
literacy, and lack of access to services), community health workers are in a unique position to 
reduce preventable morbidity and mortality, improve the quality of life, and increase the 
utilization of available preventive health services for community members. Thus, there is a need 
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to provide grants to community health workers to empower them in promoting positive health 
behaviors among women and children. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING GRANTS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE 
POSITIVE HEALTH BEHAVIORS IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by rhe Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Community Health Workers 
Act of 2007.’’ 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - The following terms as used in this Act shall be 
defined as follows: 
(1) Community health worker - means an individual who promotes health or 
nutrition within the community in which the individual resides-- 
(A) by serving as a liaison between communities and health care agencies; 
(B) by providing guidance and social assistance to community residents; 
(C) by enhancing community residents‘ ability to effectively communicate 
with health care providers; 
(D) by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health or 
nutrition education; 
(E) by advocating for individual and community health or nutrition needs; 
and 
(F) by providing referral and follow-up services. 
(2) community setting - means a home or a community organization located in 
the neighborhood in which a participant resides. 
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(3) Support - means the provision of training, supervision, and materials needed to 
effectively deliver the services described in subsection (b), reiinbursement for 
services, and other benefits. 
(4) Target population - means women of reproductive age, regardless of their 
current childbearing status and children under 21 years of age. 
SECTION 3. Grants Authorized - 
(a) IN GENERAL - The Secretary of Health, in collaboration with the Director, is 
authorized to award grants to local health center units, to promote positive health 
behaviors for women and children in target populations, especially in indigenous 
communities. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS- Grants awarded pursuant to subsection (a) may be used to 
support community health workers - 
(1) to educate, guide, and provide outreach in a community setting regarding 
health problems prevalent among women and children; 
(2) to educate, guide, and provide experiential learning opportunities that target 
behavioral risk factors including-- 
(A) poor nutrition; 
(B) physical inactivity; 
(C) being overweight or obese; 
(D) tobacco use; 
(E) alcohol and substance use; 
(F) injury and violence; 
(G) risky sexual behavior; and 
(H) mental health problems; 
(3) to educate and guide regarding effective strategies to promote positive health 
behaviors within the family; 
(4) to promote community wellness and awareness; and 
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(6) to educate and refer target populations to appropriate health care agencies and 
community-based programs and organizations in order to increase access to 
quality health care services, including preventive health services. 
SECTION 4. Application - 
(a) IN GENERAL- Each local health center unit that desires to receive a grant 
under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in 
such manner, and accompanied by such additional information as the Secretary 
may require. 
(b) CONTENTS- Each application submitted pursuant to paragraph (a) shall-- 
(1) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; 
(2) contain an assurance that with respect to each community health 
worker program receiving funds under the grant awarded, such program 
provides training and supervision to community health workers to enable 
such workers to provide authorized program services; 
(3) contain an assurance that the applicant will evaluate the effectiveness 
of community health worker programs receiving funds under the grant; 
(4) contain an assurance that each community health worker program 
receiving funds under the grant will provide services in the cultural 
context most appropriate for the individuals served by the program; 
(5) contain a plan to document and disseminate project description and 
results to other health center and organizations as identified by the 
Secretary; and 
(6) describe plans to enhance the capacity of individuals to utilize health 
services and health-related social by-- 
(i) assisting individuals in establishing eligibility under the 
programs and in receiving the services or other benefits of the 
programs; and 
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(ii) providing other services as the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate, that may include transportation and translation 
services. 
(c) PRIORITY- In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give 
priority to those applicants- 
(1) with experience in providing health or health -related social services to 
individuals who are underserved with respect to such services; and 
(2) with documented community activity and experience with conimuiiity 
health workers. 
(d) QUALITY ASSURANCE AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS - The Secretary 
shall establish guidelines for assuring the quality of the training and supervision of 
community health workers under the programs funded under this section and for assuring 
the cost-effectiveness of such programs. 
(e) MONITORING- The Secretary shall inonitor community health worker 
programs identified in approved applications and shall determine whether such programs 
are in compliance with the guidelines established under subsection (b). 
(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- The Secretary may provide technical assistance 
to community health worker programs identified in approved applications with respect to 
planning, developing, and operating programs under the grant. 
SECTION S .  Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
dpm/6-4-07 
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