EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
)
iH fi 
of I if
SENATE
S. B. No. 
392
’19 JULll P4 -02
RtCEl
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN  
BARANGAYS, PROVIDING FOR THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, 
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The national health policy of our country is clearly articulated in Article XIII, 
Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution: "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 are maintained with the help of barangay health workers who 
voluntarily render primary health care services to the community.
Barangay Health Workers serve as the frontliners in the barangay in providing 
basic health services. They play a vital role in accomplishing the primary health care 
approach towards health empowerment by providing accessible and acceptable health 
services in the barangay level.
Despite their essential role and function, they are only considered as volunteers 
in the community. As such, they are only entitled to meager incentives and benefits.


Moreover, they are not given the security of tenure that befits the level of commitment 
necessitated by the role that BHWs play.
To address the existing policy shortfall, and to give due recognition to the role 
and sen/ices of BHWs in the delivery of our primary health care services in the 
community, this measure proposes to grant BHWs the compensation and benefits 
package, including security of tenure, of public health workers. This bill also mandates 
the Department of Health (DOH) to determine and recommend the number of needed 
BHWs in each barangay.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHE
WRENCE "BONG" T. GO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
c l  
•'
'19 JUL11 P4:02
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN  
BARANGAYS, PROVIDING FOR THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, 
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Health 
Workers Act o f 2019."
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to protect and promote the right to health of the people by providing the conditions 
of health empowerment, where each individual has adequate access to information 
and services that will bring about health and well-being, and by delivering effective 
health care programs and services based on the needs of the communities. Towards 
this end, the State recognizes that the Primary Health Care Approach is an effective 
strategy towards realizing health empowerment and effective health care programs 
and services through community-based participatory strategies.
The State recognizes the indispensable role of Barangay Health Workers as the 
front liners in the Primary Health Care Approach; and the importance of strengthening 
and systematizing their services, and of providing them just compensation, consistent 
with the principle of equal pay for equal work and work of equal value.


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Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  As used in this Act:
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a.) Barangay Health Worker (BHW) shall refer to a person who is appointed to act
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as a health worker in a barangay unit in accordance with Section 4 hereof;
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b.) Magna Carta for Public Health Workers shall refer to Republic Act No. 7305;
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and
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c.) Public Health Worker (PHW) shall be as defined in Section 3 of the Magna Carta
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for Public Health Workers as referring to all persons who are engaged in health
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and health-related work, all persons employed in all hospitals, sanitaria, health
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infirmaries, health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics
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and other health-related establishments owned and operated by the
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Government or its political subdivisions with original charters and shall include
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medical, allied health professional, administrative and support personnel
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employed regardless of their employment status.
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Sec 4. Appointm ent and Qualifications. -  There shall be appointed in each
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barangay such number of BHWs as the Department of Health (DOH) shall determine
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and recommend in consideration of the number of households in a barangay;
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Provided, That the total number of BHWs per barangay shall not be less than three
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(3), nor more than one percent (1%) of the barangay's total population.
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In accordance with the recommendation of the DOH as to the needed number
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of BHWs, the city or municipal mayor, as the case may be, shall appoint BHWs in each
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barangays in the city or municipality on the strength of their accreditation by the local
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health board; Provided, That the local health board shall only issue accreditation to
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the following:
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a.) A person who has completed the BHW training program of the DOH, or the
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Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), or undergone
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a training specific for BHW by a TESDA-accredited or DOH-accredited
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institution, and has passed the BHW training assessment, and obtained the
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certification therefor; and
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b.) All active barangay health workers at the time of the effectivity of this Act,
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regardless of accreditation or training status, who have previously served for
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at least one (1) year; Provided, That they undergo and pass the BHW


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assessment by DOH/TESDA-accredited assessors, and obtained the equivalent
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certification.
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All active and existing barangay health workers accredited by the local health
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board under Republic Act No. 7883 shall be given preference in the appointment of
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BHWs pursuant to this Act.
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Sec. 5. Duties and Responsibilities. -  The BHWs shall perform in their
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respective barangays the followings duties and responsibilities:
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a.) Those which the DOH, or the city, municipal or barangay sanggunian shall
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provide by ordinance, subject to the guidelines to be promulgated jointly by
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the DOH and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in
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connection with the delivery of basic and primary health care services, the
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implementation of family planning, feeding and nutrition, and immunization
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programs, disaster response and mitigation, sanitation programs, and anti-drug
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abuse rehabilitation and information campaigns, and the establishment of
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national or local health management information systems;
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b.) Provide assistance to physicians, dentists, nurses, nutritionists, or midwives
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who are employed, stationed, or are otherwise providing services at the
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barangay health center, daycare center or birthing center;
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c.) Administer first-aid, and respond in natural calamities and disaster; and
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d.) Gather data about the health profile of the barangay, incidence of
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communicable or chronic diseases, environmental or health hazards in the
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barangay, and other public health-relevant event or information, and report the
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same to the local health board.
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Sec. 6. Compensation and Benefits. -  The entry pay level of a BHW shall
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be the prevailing rate equivalent to Salary Grade One (SG 1).
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BHWs shall also be entitled to the following standards, incentives, and benefits
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provided for Public Health Workers under the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers:
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a.) 
Normal hours of work;
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b.) 
Overtime pay for overtime work;
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c.) 
Rest day;


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d.) Night-shift differential;
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e.) Hazard allowance;
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f.) 
Subsistence allowance;
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g.) Longevity pay;
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h.) Free medical examination;
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i.) 
Compensation for injuries;
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j.) 
Leave benefits;
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k.) 
Retirement pay; and
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I.) 
Right to self-organization.
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Further, BHWs shall be covered by the existing statutory benefits such as GSIS,
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Philhealth, and Pag-IBIG, as such, the total number of years served as barangay health
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worker shall be credited to his/her service in computing retirement benefits. BHWs
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shall be entitled to the following additional benefits:
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a.) Training, Education and Career Enrichment Programs.— The DOH, in
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coordination with the DILG, other government departments, agencies and non-
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government organizations, shall provide opportunities for the following:
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1.) 
Educational programs which shall recognize years of primary health care
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service as credits to higher education in institutions with stepladder
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curricula that will entitle BHWs to upgrade their skills and knowledge for
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community work or to pursue further training as midwives, pharmacists,
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nurses or doctors;
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2.) 
Continuing education, study and exposure tours, training, grants, field
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immersion, scholarships, etc.; and
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3.) 
Special training programs such as those on traditional medicine, disaster
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response and preparedness, and other programs that address emergent
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community health problems and issues.
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b.) Free Legal Services.— Legal representation and consultation services for
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barangay health workers shall be immediately provided by the Public Attorneys'
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Office in cases of coercion, interference, and in other civil and criminal cases
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filed by or against barangay health workers arising out of or in connection with
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the performance of their duties as such.


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c. ) Preferential Access to Loans — The DOH in coordination with other concerned
government agencies shall provide a mechanism for access to loan services by 
organized barangay health workers. The agencies providing loan services will 
set aside one percent (1%) of their loanable funds for organized barangay 
health worker groups that have community-based income generating projects 
in support of health programs or activities.
d. ) Civil Service Eligibility.— A second grade eligibility shall be granted to barangay
health workers who have rendered five (5) years continuous service.
Sec. 7. 
Security o f Tenure. -  All duly appointed BHWs shall not be 
terminated except for cause provided under existing civil service rules and regulations, 
and only after notice and hearing; Provided, That if a BHW is found by the Civil Service 
Commission to be unjustly dismissed from work, he/she shall be entitled to 
reinstatement without loss of seniority rights and to his/her back wages with twelve 
percent (12%) interest computed from the time his/her compensation was withheld 
from his/her up to time of reinstatement.
Sec. 8. Appropriations. -T h e  amount of the grant of compensation herein 
authorized shall be chargeable to the annual General Appropriations Act under the 
budget of the Department of Health.
Sec. 9. Im plem enting Agencies. -  Within one (1) year from the effectivity 
of this Act, the DOH, DILG, TESDA and local government units shall immediately 
appropriate funds necessary for the full implementation of this Act.
Within the same period, the DOH, DILG, and TESDA shall formulate, launch 
and institutionalize the BHW training program, assessment, and national certification 
program.
Sec. 10. Im plem enting Rules and Regulations. -  Within six (6) months 
from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH and DILG, in consultation with the local 
government units, and existing health workers union and barangay health workers 
organizations, shall provide the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the


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provisions of this Act.
Sec. 11. N on-dim inution o f benefits. -  Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to eliminate or in any may diminish entitlements, or other benefits being 
provided to or enjoyed by BHWs under Republic Act No. 7883 or other laws and 
issuances.
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. -Repubiic Act No. 7883 otherwise known as the" 
Barangay Health Workers Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995", is hereby repealed. 
All other laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances, rules and regulations and parts 
thereof which are inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly.
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is subsequently 
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain 
in full force and effect.
Sec. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its 
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the 
Philippines.
Approved,