RECEIVED

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) Date: 3.0 JUN 2016
First Regular Session ) awe 423]

BY: /

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES C
503 REC'STR ATION UNIT
House Bill No._“ | BILLS AND INOEX SERVICE

Introduced by Representative Victor A. Yap

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Barangay leaders are the foundation of governance at the community level, particulaly in remote and
peripheral parts of the nation. ‘The Local Government Code of 1991 states that: “the Barangay serves as the
primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects and activities in
the community, as a forum wherein the collective views of people may be expressed, crystalized and
considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled.” Officials and volunteers in the country’s 42,036
barangays are not only the front liners in delivering basic services to our people, they are also the primary
facilitators of citizen empowerment and engagement.

Strengthening barangay governance is at the heart of making government more effective,
accountable, and inclusive. In recent years, various innovations have been implemented to serve the poorest
of the poor and engage them in governance, notably through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
and the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) process. Effective implementation of these and other priotity
programs depend on strong barangay structures and empowered barangay leaders.

‘This bill improves barangay governance to upgrade its critical role in government service and
facilitating public participation, as follows:

1, Financial empowerment of Barangay Officials and Volunteers

To ease financial pressure face by Barangay Officials, the bill provides for the honorarium of one
Barangay Health Worker (BHW) and up to twenty (20) Barangay Tanods in each barangay. In this manner,
the barangays can utilize their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for the salary of the Punong Barangay and
Kagawads, as well as, for Barangay Nutrition Scholars and members of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, and for
other purposes. Subsidizing the honorarium of BHW’s and Tanods also insulates them from local politics.

2. Capacity building for Barangay Officials and Volunteers

The bill also ensures appropriate training and seminars will be provided to empower barangay
officials and volunteers in the effective exercise their duties. Providing free legal assistance and health
coverage will likewise increase the confidence and capacity of barangay voluntary workers and officials to do
their duties.

The proposed reforms under this bill adhere to the principle of local autonomy enshrined in the 1987
Constitution and to the LGC’s operative principles of decentralization. These reforms are much needed as we
seek to ensure that the country’s growth redounds to the benefit of the margins of society.

~~

VICTOR 4. YAP
Representative, 2"

In line with this, passage of this bill is urgently sought.

HOUSE "F REPRESENTATIVES

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No.__ 503,

Introduced by Representative Victor A. Yap

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY THROUGH SUPPORT FOR BARANGAY
OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEER WORKERS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title- This Act shall be known as the “Barangay Officials and

Volunteer Workers Incentives and Benefits Act of 2016”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.- It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
strengthen the barangays by providing adequate support to barangay officials and volunteer workers
and improve the provisions of line government services to the people at the barangay level. The
State acknowledges the need to provide incentives and benefits in order to properly compensate and
equip our barangay officials and volunteer workers with the necessary training and enable them to

efficiently and effectively carry out their mandated tasks for the great benefit of our people.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms.- As used in this act, the following terms shall mean:

2) Barangay Officials refer to officials enumerated under Section 387 (a) of Republic Act No.
7160 as amended, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 namely, the
punong barangay, sangguniang bayan members, sangguniang kabataan chairperson, secretary

and treasurer.

b) Volunteer Workers refer Barangay Health Workers and members of the Barangay Tanod
Brigade.

©) Barangay Health Worker refers to a person who has undergone training programs under
any accredited government and non-government organization and who voluntarily renders
primary health care services in the community after having been accredited to function as
such by the local health board in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the
Department of Health (DOH); and


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@ Barangay Tanods refer to all duly appointed members of the barangay tanod brigades,
which shall number not more than twenty (20) in each barangay as prescribed under the

Local Government Code of 1991.

SECTION 4. Honorarium of BHWs and Barangay Tanods.- In order to ease the
financial burden on our barangay volunteer workers, one (1) BHW in each barangay and barangay
tanods, which shall not be more than twenty (20) in each barangay, shall receive a monthly
honorarium of at least Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) chargeable against the budget of the
Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
respectively: Pronided, That barangays may opt to give additional honorarium equally to all barangay

volunteer workers, which shall be charged against the local budget of each barangay: Provided further,

that nothing herein contained shall diminish or remove the honorarium already granted to volunteer

workers before the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 5. Other Incentives and Benefits of Barangay Officials and Volunteer
Workers.- In recognition of their services, the national government shall, in addition to financial
benefits, provide barangay officials and volunteer workers with the following incentives and

benefits:

a) Training and workshops on how to effectively exercise their duty provided by the DILG for
Barangay Tanods and DOH for BHWs and such other training fit for barangay officials and

volunteer workers.

b) PhilHealth coverage for BHWs, which shall include medical examination and treatment in
government hospitals, and fully subsidized by the national government through the DOH:
Provided, That indigent barangay volunteer workers shall be covered through the full national

government subsidy scheme; and

©) Free legal service from government lawyers or the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) for cases
arising out of or in connection with performance of their duties as such: Provided, that such
legal services shall continue, even after the expiration of the term of barangay officials, until

its final disposition.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- The Department of Interior and
Local Government, in consultation with the National Liga ng mga Barangay and the Department of

Health, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this act.


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SECTION 7. Separability Clause- If any of the section or provision of this Act is held

invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause- Section 393 of the Local Government Code of 1991,
Republic Act No. 7883 otherwise known as the “Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of
1995” and all laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are

hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,