EIGHTEENTh CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE P H ILIP P IN E S  
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S enate B ill No.
.01
ifj' ..
of li e 
tt.HT
'19 
JUL -1 
P5 37
In tro d u c e d  by S e n ato r Juan M iguel F. Z u b iri
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY U N IT THROUGH SUPPORT FOR 
BARANGAY O FFICIALS AND BARANGAY VOLUNTEER WORKERS, AM ENDING  
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, PR O VID IN G  FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The development of the country lies with the development of its people. No 
government policy or program, no matter how well-crafted can be called a success 
unless it would be able to reach each and every one of its constituents, up to the 
last individual in the barangay.
The barangay is the basic unit of government, the closest to its constituents 
and the first line of government service people turn to. The Local Government 
Code of 1991 recognizes the important role of the barangay as it states that: "As 
the basic political unit, 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."
Empowering the barangay is the key to ensuring that government policies 
being pursued for the development and progress of the country are properly 
implemented. It is through the barangay that development programs can be 
delivered and effectively reach each and every Filipino, even those in the most 
remote areas of the country.
This bill seeks to strengthen the barangay by providing its barangay tanods 
and barangay health workers capacity building programs, financial empowerment 
and continuity of service. This would ensure that the barangay workers are fully 
capable of addressing the needs of their constituents and are able to implement 
the government policies for the advancement of the Filipino people.


strengthening barangay governance through the empowerment of its 
barangay tanodsdiUd barangay health workers is a vital key that would not only 
help in effectively delivering quality service to every individual, but would also 
encourage active people participation in governance.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
M IGUEL F. Z U B IR I


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE P H ILIP P IN E S  
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S enate B ill No.
1 C\01
(©((ill’ nl tl;r 
'r’-ptup
'19 JUL-1 P5:37
F
-
REU,
In tro d u c e d  by S e n ato r Juan M iguel F. Z u b iri
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY U N IT  THROUGH SUPPORT FOR 
BARANGAY O FFICIALS AND BARANGAY VOLUNTEER WORKERS, AM ENDING 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, PR O VID IN G  FUNDS THEREFOR, 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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S ection 1. S h o rt Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Support fo r Barangay 
Workers Act."
Sec. 2. D e c la ra tio n  o f  Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
empower and strengthen our barangay officials and barangay volunteer workers in order 
to sufficiently provide front line government services to the Filipino people in the barangay 
level. The State acknowledges the need to provide for the financial burden of rendering 
service and the need to properly compensate and capacitate barangay officials and 
volunteers.
Sec. 3. D e fin itio n  o f  Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:
a) Barangay Health Worker (BHW) - a person who has undergone training programs 
under any accredited government or 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
b) Barangay Tanod - all duly appointed members of the barangay tanod bnqBdes, 
which shall not be more than twenty (20) in each barangay as prescribed by 
Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.


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Sec. 4. H o n o ra riu m  o f  B H W s a n d  B a ra n g a y Tanods. - In order to ease the
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financial burden on our barangay officials and volunteers, the following benefits shall be
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given by the National Government for services rendered by the following barangay
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workers:
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a) One (1) BMW in each barangay shall receive a monthly honorarium of not less than
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Five Hundred pesos (Php 500) from the DOH
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b) At least twenty (20) tanods\r\ each barangay, shall receive a monthly honorarium
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of not less than Five Hundred pesos (Php 500) from the Department of Interior
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and Local Government (DILG).
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The 
barangays 
may 
choose 
to 
give 
an 
additional 
honorarium 
to 
the
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aforementioned volunteers: Provided, That such additional honorarium shall be charged
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against the local budgets of each barangay: Provided further. That barangays shall ensure
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that all BHWs receive the same honorarium.
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Sec. 5. C a p a city B u ild in g  fo r  B a ra n g a y O ffic ia ls  a n d  V o lu n te e r W orkers.
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- In addition to financial benefits, the National Government shall provide the following to
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barangay officials and volunteer workers:
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a) Training and workshops on how to effectively exercise their duty provided by the
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DILG for tanods 
DOH for BHWs, and any other such training fit for barangay
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officials and volunteer workers.
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b) Philhealth coverage for BHWs, which shall include medical examination and
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treatment in government hospitals, and fully subsidized by the National
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Government through the DOH: Provided, That indigent barangay volunteers shall
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be covered through the full national government subsidy scheme.
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c) Free legal services from government lawyers of the Public Attorney's Office for
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cases arising from acts committed in the performance of duty: Provided, That such
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legal services shall continue, even after the expiration of the term of the barangay
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volunteer, until its final disposition.
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Sec. 6. Im p le m e n tin g  R ules a n d  R egulations. - The DILG, in consultation
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With the National Liga ng mga Barangay and DOH, shall issue the rules and regulations
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to implement this Act within ninety (90) days after its approval.
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Sec. 7. S e p a ra b ility  Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 8. R ep e a lin g  Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or
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other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
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or modified accordingly.


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SEC. 9. E ffe c tiv ity . - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in 
the Philippines.
Approved,