Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2529

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Witfride Mark M. Enverga

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bills seeks to provide for the inclusion of additional member in the Local
Health Boards amending for the purpose Section 102 of Republic Act 7160 otherwise known
as the Local Government Code of 1991.

It is the duty of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people
and instill health consciousness among them, this is mandated by Article 11, Section 15
of the Constitution.

To carry out the aforementioned constitutional mandate, RA 7160 mandated the
local government units to discharge functions related to delivery of health services.

RA 7883 otherwise known as “ AN ACT GRANTING BENEFITS AND
INCENTIVES TO ACCREDIT BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES. “ was enacted in 1995 to boost the local government's efforts regarding the
provisions of health care services at the barangay level. It recognized the Primary Health
Care Approach as the major strategy towards health empowerment, emphasizing the
need to provide accessible and acceptable health services through the participatory
strategies such as health education, training of barangay health workers, community
building and organizing.


The law likewise mandated government and all its instrumentalities to recognize the
rights of barangay health workers to organize themselves, to strengthen and systematize
their services to their community; and to make a venue for sharing their experiences and
for recommending policies and guidelines for the promotion, maintenance and

advancement of their activities and services.

While the passage of the aforementioned law for the barangay health workers
has indeed seen improvement in the delivery of health services to the grassroots,
something may still be done to further uphold and promote the interests of Barangay
Health Workers

For instance, notwithstanding of the passage of RA 7883 and the Magna Carta
of Public Health Workers, health workers under the Local Government Code are still not
properly represented yet RA 7883 mandates that “every incentive or benefit for
barangay health worker requiring expenditure of local funds shall be reviewed and
approved by the local health board to ensure that only the deserving barangay health
workers get the same.” (Section 7).

This bill seeks to further uphold the rights and promote the welfare of barangay
health workers and to strengthen the Local Health Boards in the LGUs by increasing its
membership to include representatives from barangay health workers and to provide
additional functions responsive to its mandate and the demand of times.

In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is highly and
earnestly recommended.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fourteen Congress
First Regular Session

; 2529

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by Rep. Wikfride Mark M. Enuerga

AN ACT STRENGTHENING LOCAL HEALTH BOARDS, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTIONS 102 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO, 7160, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, AS AMENDED, AND FOR

OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION. 1. Section 102 (a) (1) — (3) of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended
to read as follows:

"SEC. 102. Creation and Composition —

(a) X-X-x-x

(1) The provincial health board shall be headed by the governor as
chairman, the provincial health officer as vice-chairman, and the
chairman of the committee on health of the sangguniang panlalawigan,
THE DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE PROVINCIAL
FEDERATION OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS, a
representative from the private sector or non-governmental organizations
involved in health services, and a representative of the Department of
Health in the province, as members;

(2) The city health board shall be headed by the city mayor as

chairman, the city health officer as vice-chairman, and the chairman of


the committee on health of the sangguniang panlungsod, THE DULY
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE CITY FEDERATION OF
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS , a representative from the private
sector or non-governmental organizations involved in health services,
and a representative of the Department of Health in the city, as
members; and of Health in the municipality, as members.

(3) The municipal health board shall be headed by the municipal mayor
as chairman, the municipal health officer as vice-chairman, and the

chairman of the committee on health of the sangguniang bayan, THE
DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE MUNICIPAL FEDERATION
OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS, a representative from the
private sector or non-governmental organizations involved in health
services, and a representative of the Department of Health in the
municipality, as members.

SEC. 2. Section 102 (B) (1) of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as

XOXXX

(b) The functions of the local health board shall be:

(1) To propose to the sanggunian concemed, in accordance with
standards
and criteria set by the Department of Health, annual budgetary
allocations for the operation and maintenance of health facilities and
services, INCENTIVES OR BENEFITS FOR BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS PRESCRIBED BY LAW AND OTHER
MATTERS REQUIRING EXPENDITURES OF LOCAL FUNDS
ON HEALTH SERVICES within the municipality, city or province,
as the case may be;

XK,


SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations,
and all other issuances inconsistent with this Act shall be deemed repealed, modified or

amended accordingly;
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of
this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are

not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 6, Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the
completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.