Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

First Regular Session
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

3673

HOUSE BILL No..

Introduced by REP. EM! G. CALIXTO-RUBIANO.

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 the Title | Section 17 of the Local Government Code, deliveries of health
care services were devolved to the local government unit (LGU), aiming for self reliant LGUs
to deliver more direct and immediate health care services to the people. At the forefront of
primary health care delivery are the barangay health workers or BHW. As front liners, BHWs
are entrusted with primary health care delivery but the benefits and incentives they receive
are not commensurate with the heavy responsibilities they bear,

Republic Act 7883 or the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of
1995 allowed for the institutionalization of remuneration for our BHWs but the law has to be
updated to present realities. Apart from the hazard and subsistence allowances enshrined in
RA 7883, our BHWs nationwide receive somewhere between P100 to P2,000 monthly
honorarium depending on the discretion of the local leaders. Although BHWs are
categorized as volunteers, such irregular and measly amount does not give them dignity and
recognition they deserved for the valuable work they do. Having to depend on the whims of
the local leaders for the amount of their honorarium further demoralize the BHWS as they are
often at the mercy of politicians and are often caught in political clashes.

This bill aims to provide fixed monthly honorarium, cash gifts, separation pay and
disability benefits to all accredited BHWs. It seeks to ensure that amounts provided in the
measure will be adjusted to present realities based on Consumer Price Indices (CPI), upon
review and approval of the local health board.

In view of the foregoing, and in support of our dedicated and committed accredited

BHWs, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. VA
AS —

EMll G, CALIXTO-RUBIANO
Representative
Lone District of Pasay City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

First Regular Session
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

3673

HOUSE BILL No.

introduced by REP. EMI G. CALIXTO-RUBIANO.

AN ACT GRANTING A FIXED MONTHLY HONORARIA AND ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
TO ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE
SECTION 6 OF REPUBLIC ACT 7883 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BARANGYA

HEALTH WORKERS’ BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT OF 1995

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

SECTION 1.
“Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995” is hereby amended to read

as follows:

Short Title. — Section 6 of Republic Act 7883 otherwise known as the

Section 6. Incentives and Benefits - In recognition of their service, all accredited
barangay health workers who are actively and regularly performing their duties shall
be entitled to the following incentives and benefits:

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HONORARIA ~ ALL ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS

SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A FIXED MONTHLY HONORARIA OF FOUR
THOUSANFD PESOS (P4,000).

CASH GIFT - ALL ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS
SHALL RECEIVE A CASH GIFT OF TWO THOUSAND PESOS (P2,000) TO
BE GIVEN EVERY DECEMBER.

SEPARATION PAY ~ ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS
WHO HAVE SERVED FOR TEN (10) YEARS AND ABOVE SHALL BE

ENTITLED TO TWO THOUSAND PESOS (P2,000) FOR EVERY YEAR OF
SERVICE.

DISABILITY BENEFIT ~ ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS
WHO SUSTAIN INJURY OR SICKNESS ARISING OUT OF AND IN THE
COURSE OF PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO
TWO THOUSAND PESOS (P2,000) FOR EVERY YEAR OF SERVICE

Hazard Allowance — 00

Preferential Access to Loans — x00


SUCH INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS, MAY BE INCREASED, UPON REVIEW AND.
APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL HEALTH BOARD, AFTER CONSIDERING AMONG
OTHERS, PRESENT CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI), AS PUBLISHED BY THE
NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE (NSO)

SECTION 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of Health, in
‘cooperation with the Department of Interior and Local Government, and other concerned
government agencies, shall formulate, within one hundred eighty days (180) from its
effectivity, the rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.

SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting,

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. — All laws, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

SECTION &. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,