Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by: Rep. Olga “Ara” T. Kho and Rep. Ricardo T. Kho 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The health sector is plagued by the migration of nurses and doctors seeking higher salary 
abroad, this leads to poor delivery of health services in our country, especially in the rural areas.  
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that there are six medical doctors 
per 10,000 population in the Philippines in 2017, which is lower than the recommended ratio of 
10 doctors per 10,000 population (WHO, 2018). The doctor to population ratio in the country is 
also lower compared to other Southeast Asian countries, 
In 2019, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Human Resources for Health 
Network (HRHN), an inter-agency policy and program support network led by the Department of 
Health (DOH) estimated a shortage of about 290,000 health workers in the country. This is based 
on the WHO indicative HRH ratio of 44.5 HRH to 10,000 population for the attainment of 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, there is an annual out migration of 13,000 
health care professionals which aggravates the deficiency in the national supply of health care 
workers (POEA, 2020). 
Despite the huge number of health professionals that the country produces every year, there 
is still a shortage of health workforce employed to meet the standard requirement for the country’s 
growing population. A large factor of this is the continuous out migration of health professionals. 
With this scenario, the role of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) has become crucial in 
the delivery of health services throughout the country. The importance of BHWs in the national 
health sector had been acknowledged through the enactment of Republic Act No. (RA) 7883, 
otherwise known as the Barangay Health Workers' Incentives and Benefits Act of 1995. But the 
heroic role that BHWs play makes them deserving of much more than what they are receiving 
today. 
July 7, 2022
1:44 pm
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Hence, this proposed measure aims to provide reasonable set of incentives to BHWs to      
compensate them for the work that they perform in making health services accessible to all. It will 
enhance the benefits provided to BHWs by virtue of RA 7883 by providing among others, a fixed 
honoraria and health and insurance coverage under the Philhealth and GSIS. 
The passage of this proposed measure will not only grant due recognition to the valuable 
services that BHWs render but will hopefully encourage more people to serve as BHWs in their 
localities. Such increase in the number of BHWs would contribute positively to the goal of the 
government of providing a more effective delivery of health services and make health care 
accessible to all. 
Now is a good time to revisit the salaries and benefits of health personnel to make sure the 
hazards of their profession are taken care of and their services are well compensated. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
REP. OLGA “Ara” T. KHO 
 
 
  REP. RICARDO T. KHO 
       
       2nd District, Masbate  
 
                   1st District, Masbate 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila  
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
Introduced by: Rep. Olga “Ara” T. Kho and Rep. Ricardo T. Kho 
AN ACT 
GRANTING FIXED HONORARIA AND ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS 
TO BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC 
ACT NUMBERED 7883, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS' INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS ACT OF 1995. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act Numbered (RA) 7883, otherwise known as the 
Barangay Health Workers Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995, is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"SEC. 6. Incentives and Benefits. — In recognition of their services, all 
accredited Barangay Health Workers who are actively and regularly performing their 
duties shall be entitled to the following incentives and benefits: 
A) HONORARIA ALL ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE
ENTITLED TOA MONTHLY HONORARIA OF THREE THOUSAND PESOS
(P3,000.00)
B) (a) Hazard Allowance Volunteer barangay health workers in rural and urban areas,
exposed to situations, conditions, or factors in the work environment or place where
foreseeable but unavoidable danger or risks exist which adversely endanger his health
or life and/or increase the risk of producing adverse effect on his person in the
exercise of his duties, to be validated by the proper authorities, shall be entitled to
hazard allowance in an amount to be determined by the local health board and the
local peace and order council of the local government unit concerned BUT IN NO
CASE LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00).
C) Subsistence Allowance — Barangay health workers who render service within the
premises of isolated barangay health stations in order to make their services available
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at any and all times, shall be entitled to subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals 
they take in the course of their duty, which shall be computed in accordance with 
prevailing circumstances as determined by the local government unit concerned BUT 
IN NO CASE LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00). 
0) COMPULSORY PHILHEALTH COVERAGE — ALL BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS WHO HAVE RENDERED AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS OF
SERVICE SHALL BE ENROLLED IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE 
PROGRAM TO RECEIVE AND AVAIL OF AN ADEQUATE PACKAGE OF 
PERSONAL HELTH SERVICES THAT SHALL INCLUDE IN-PATIENT 
HOSPITAL CARE, OUT-PATIENT CARE, EMERGENCY AND TRANSFER 
SERVICES, AND OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY HEALTH BENEFITS AS MAY 
BE DEFINED BY THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION 
(PHIC) AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT (LGU) WHERE THEY 
RENDER SERVICES. 
E)
INSURANCE COVERAGE — ALL BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS, WHO
HAVE RENDERED AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS OF SERVICE, SHALL BE
GRANTED INSURANCE COVERAGE BY THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS) OR ANY ACCREDITED INSURANCE
COMPANY IN AN AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND
PESOS (P10,000).
F)
(c)] Training, Education and Career Enrichment Programs —X XX
G)
Civil Service Eligibility— X X X
H)
Free Legal Services — Legal representation and consultation services for
barangay health workers shall be immediately provided by the Public
Attorney's Office in cases of coercion, interference, and in other civil and
criminal cases filed by or against barangay health workers arising out of or in
connection with the performance of their duties as such. THE DOH SHALL
ALSO ENDEAVOR TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT (MOA) WITH THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE
PHILIPPINES (IBP) TO ALLOW LAWYERS WHO WILL PROVIDE FREE
LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO BHWs WHICH WILL BE GRANTED AS A
MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (MCLE) CREDITS
TO THE LAWYERS.
1) SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO DEPENDENTS OF BMWs — COLLEGE


SCHOLARSHIPS TO ANY STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES 
OR TESDA SCHOLARSHIPS SHALL BE GRANTED TO A MINIMUM OF TWO 
(2) CHILDREN OF ALL BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS WHO HAVE 
RENDERED AT LEAST ONE (1) YEAR OF SERVICE. 
 
J)  
Preferential Access to Loans — X X X" 
SEC. 2. The following additional sections are hereby inserted before Section 7 of RA 
7883, to read as follows: 
"SEC. 8. RETIREMENT AGE THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR 
BHWs SHALL BE SIXTY-FIVE (65) YEARS OLD. HOWEVER, AN OPTIONAL 
RETIREMENT SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE REACHED THE 
AGE SIXTY (60) TO SIXTY-FOUR (64) YEARS OLD. ACCREDITED BHWs 
QUALIFIED UNDER THIS PROVISION CAN AVAIL OF THE RETIREMENT 
BENEFITS UNDER THE GSIS. 
SEC. 9. BHW REGISTRY — THE CHDs SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE IN 
COLLECTING INFORMATION AND UPDATING THE BHW REGISTRY IN THEIR 
RESPECTIVE REGIONS AND SHALL SUBMIT AN UPDATED COPY TO THE 
DOH CENTRAL OFFICE EVERY YEAR. THE DOH CENTRAL 
OFFICE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE IN MAINTAINING THE NATIONAL BHW 
REGISTRY, WHICH SHALL BE THE REFERENCE OF AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE 
PROVISION OF INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS TO BHWs. 
 
SEC. 20. COMMON PROVISIONS 
 
A. PREMIUM FOR THE BENEFITS OF BHWs SHALL BE BORNE BY THE 
LGU CONCERNED: PROVIDED, THAT THE NATIONAL 
GOVERNMENT SHALL SUBSIDIZE FIFTY PERCENT (50%) OF THE 
CONTRIBUTIONS 
OF 
FOURTH, 
FIFTH 
AND 
SIXTH 
CLASS 
MUNICIPALITIES. 
B. ANY EXPEDITURE BY LGUs FOR THE BENEFITS OF BHWs 
SHALL BE EXEMPTED FROM THE FORTY-FIVE PERCENT (45%) 
LIMIT ON THE ALLOCATION FOR PERSONAL SERVICES OF LGUS. 
SEC. 3. The consequent sections of RA 7883 are hereby renumbered accordingly. 
SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Health, in consultation 
with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Civil Service Commission 


(CSC), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the National 
Confederation of Barangay Health Workers, shall prepare within one hundred and eighty (180) 
days the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. Rules and 
regulations issued pursuant to this section shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a 
newspaper of general circulation. 
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the remainder 
or any of this provision hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and in effect. 
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. Any laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential issuances 
and other administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,