Republic of the Philippines:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Cit

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._301

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G.
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO Vill

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Primary health care, being one of the top health campaigns of our
government, relies heavily on barangay initiatives and community participation. In
order to address the basic health necessities given the limited resources, our local
government units count on Barangay Health Workers, also known as Barangay
Health Volunteers, who are accredited to function as such by the local health board
in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Health |

With the ever increasing growth rate of our population, our Barangay Health
Workers are truly indispensable in the delivery and promotion of the basic
healthcare services in local communities. They are always in the frontline of
providing maternal, newborn and child health care in the neighborhood. They also
act as health educators and community organizers in order to effectively promote
the health awareness campaigns by the government down to the smallest unit of
our society _the family. Undeniably, the nature of their work is full-time.

Section 3 of Republic Act 7883.

Wikipedia, www.wikipedia.com, citing the following studies of the Red Cross Philippines, 8 November 2011;
Department of Health: Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival Project Newborn Health in

Philippines, 2012


Despite the indispensability our Barangay Health Workers, they are treated
sadly as mere "volunteers" under Republic Act (RA) 7883 entitled, "The Barangay
Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995". Each volunteer receives
about five weeks of training, Barangay Health Workers live in the communities they
serve, and act as change agents in their communities. They provide information,
education and motivation services for primary health care, maternal and child
health, child rights, family planning and nutrition. They may administer
immunizations and regular weighing of children. They often assist midwives in
providing birthing services. On average, each volunteer is expected to work with
around 20 families in their community. However the scarcity of trained individuals
has narrowed down the number of volunteers, especially in some remote areas,
where now one or two volunteers service an entire barangay.2

The cause of the ongoing trend on the dearth of Barangay Health Workers
catering to local communities is easily traced on the compensation these
volunteers receive vis-a-vis the services they provide. Local Government Units
(LGUs) vary in the rates and benefits they provide to these community workers.
The allowance ranging from Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) to Six Thousand Pesos
(P6,000.00) is typically their only source of living, sans fixed income, benefits and
incentives. This rate is hardly enough to make both ends meet for their families. It
is high time that Barangay Health Workers receive more support in exchange for all
the services they selflessly provide in their local communities. The irregular and
measly amount Barangay Health Workers get does not give them the dignity and
recognition that they deserve for the important work that they do.

Furthermore, it is also an uncontroverted fact that Barangay Health Workers
are at the mercy of local government officials, due to the absence of security of
tenure. They can be terminated capriciously at the instance of perceived adverse
political leanings. Thus, the present system allows them to be politicized. We must

put an end to this unscrupulous practice.

This bill therefore aims to revise the existing law in order to recognize and
improve on the realities presently at work: Barangay Health Workers and Barangay



Health Services are key towards the attainment of exclusive economic growth

through sustainable human development

This legislation is originally authored by Ang NARS Party-List headed by
Representative Leah S. Paquiz with a counterpart policy measure in the Senate

filed by Senator Grace Poe

Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought,

AY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. MiGi LUfS R. VILLAFUERTE

SHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA ENCI 0 VIII


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 301

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G.
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII

AN ACT
AN ACT TO IMPROVE AND TO PROMOTE QUALITY DELIVERY OF HEALTH
SERVICES IN BARANGAYS, ENACTING THE "BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS
AND SERVICES REFORM ACT OF 2019"

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 Health
Workers and Services Reform Act of 2019”

SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that
provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of
living, and an improved quality of life for all. The State recognizes that quality
health care services promote social justice in all phases of national development.

The State further protects and promotes the right to health of the people
and provides conditions of health empowerment, where each individual has
access to information and services that will bring about health and well-being.
Primary Health care is recognized as the major strategy towards health

empowerment, emphasizing the need to provide accessible, available and


affordable quality health services through community based participatory

strategies.

To this end, the government and all its instrumentalities recognize the economic and

social rights of barangay health workers to just compensation, consistent with the

principle of equal: pay for equal work and work of equal value.

SECTION 3. Definition of terms. -

a.) Barangay Health Workers (BHW), is a support health worker in the

barangay unit, as defined and covered by republic Act (RA) 7305;

b.) Magna Carta for Public Health Workers, as used in this Act, shall refer

to RA 7305,

c.) Primary health Care (PHC), is essential health care made universally

accessible to individuals and families in the community and country can
afford to maintain at every stage and at a cost that the community and
country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the
spirit of self-reliance and self-determination. It forms an integral part
both of the country's health system, of which is the central function and
main focus, and of the overall social and economic development of the
community, characterized by partnership ad empowerment of the
people by means acceptable to them, It is the first level of contact of
individuals, the family and community with the national health system
bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and work,
and constitutes the first element of a continuing health care as close as.
possible to where people live and work, and constitute the first element

of continuing health care process ';

d.) Public Health Worker (PHW), as used in this Act, shall mean all persons

who are engaged in health and health-related work! all persons
employed in all hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers,
rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics and other health-
related establishments owned and operated by the Government or its
political subdivisions with original charters and shall include medical,
allied health professionali administrative and support personnel


Heali

employed regardless of their employment status, as pursuant to Sec. 3
of the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers

SECTION 4, Barangay Health Center (BHC). - There shall be one Barangay
ith Center in every barangay unit, with the following basic and essential

facilities and provisions

the fe

a.) Adequate lighting and ventilation;

b.) Adequate supply of portable water and electricity:

C.) Floor Area of at least twenty (20) square meters;

d.) Equipment including, but not limited to, blood pressure apparatus, dressing
kit, over the counter medicines, weighing scale for infants and adults,
thermometers, standard operating procedure manual from the Department
of Health (DOH), glucometer, and delivery kit;

e.) Examining Area which must be enclosed, with bed, cabinet, foot stool and
stool;

f.) Toilet with sink and running water; and,

g.) Consultation Area with table, cabinet and two chairs.

SECTION 5. Functions of the Barangay Health Center. - Each BHC shall have

following functions.

a.) Delivers basic and primary care services for the community to include, but
not limited to, immunization, prenatal check-up, check-up of well and ill
infants;

b.) Coordinates efforts and actions of the different members of health team;

c.) Keeps records of health indices, community profile, and other data;

d.) Serves as an area of congregation for meetings of the health team,

e.) Serves as training of future and present members of the health team: and

f.) Assists and coordinates with the respective Local Government Units
(LGUs) and appropriate offices on first aid and procedures in disaster risk

reduction.

SECTION 6. Barangay Health Workers To Man Botika sa Barangay.



When available and offered in the community especially in far-flung areas, the
Barangay Health Workers shall man and operate " Botika sa Barangay ‘i project or
service. They shall likewise be given appropriate trainings by the Department of
Health and Food and Drug Administration in full consultation with the relevant

professional organizations and associations.

SECTION 7. Referral System. — The BHC shall observe and follow the

referral system framework of Primary Health Care.

SECTION 8. Barangay Health Team Placement. — The BHC shall be
composed of a nurse, a midwife, and a BHW. The operation and functioning of the
BHC shall be headed and supervised by a nurse.

Each BHC shall be manned by a health team proportionate with the existing

population in the Barangay:

a.) Nurse — There shall be at least one nurse for every barangay with a
population not exceeding five thousand (5,000); b,) Midwife — There shall
be at least one midwife for every barangay with a population not exceeding
two thousand five hundred (2,500); c,) BHW - There shall be at least one
BHW for every barangay with a population not exceeding five hundred
(500).

SECTION 9. BHW Qualifications. — (a) Any person who has completed the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) BHW program or
undergone training specific for BHW by TESDA — accredited institution: Provided,
that he or she has passed the training assessment and obtained the equivalent

national certification.

(b) All BHW, regardless of accreditation or registration status, who have
served for at least two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act must undergo BHW
assessment by TESDA — accredited assessors and pass the equivalent national
certification. Only those who obtained the equivalent national certification shall be

eligible for employment.


SECTION 10. BHW: Hiring, — (a) The Local Government Selection and
Promotion Board shall process the hiring of the Barangay Health Team personnel,

pursuant to existing Civil Service rules, regulations, issuances and orders on

placement and hiring.
(b) All existing BHWs who met the qualifications under Section 8

subparagraph (b) of this Act shall be given preference in hiring and priority in

placement

SECTION 11. BHW: Duties and Responsibilities. -
a,) The BHW shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:

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Height and weight monitoring, and reporting the same to the BHC;
Monitoring and follow-up defaultersin cases of immunization, family
planning, tuberculosis compliance to treatment and others, and
reporting the same to the BHC,

Reporting to the BHC any incidence of disease or any health cases in
the community;

Communicating and coordinating with the community to participate in
BHC activities,

Gathering of data about the overall status of health of the community;
Administering first aid;

Conducting health visits;

Conducting of Birth Planning for Pregnant Women;

Conducting Health Education;

10 Strengthening referral systems.
b.) The BHW performs the following duties and responsibilities assistive to the

Barangay Health Team:

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Sputum collection;

Identifying people with disease and sickness;

Health community profiling:

Psychosocial debriefing for stress and post — calamity initiatives;
Strengthening the health programs of the government;

Responding in natural calamities and disasters.


SECTION 12. BHW: Compensation. — The entry pay level of a BHW shall be
the prevailing rate equivalent to Salary Grade One "SG 1"

SECTION 13. BHW: Incentives and Benefits. — A BHW shall be entitled to the
same incentives and benefits provided under the Magna Carta for Public Health
workers. Furthery they shall be covered by the existing statutory benefits such as
GSIS, Philhealth, and Pag-ibig. Provided, that in addition, they shall be given burial
and disability assistance in case of death or if the BHW is afflicted by illness which
results in disability. Provided, further, that a regular adjustment in monetary and
other non-monetary incentives shall be made to help improve the living condition of

Barangay Health Workers.

SECTION 14. Penal Provision. — Any person who violates the provisions of
this act shall be criminally, civilly, and administratively liable.

SECTION 15. Implementing Agencies. — Within one (1) year from the
effectivity of this act, the TESDA and DOH, with the participation of various health
union representatives shall formulate, finalize and launch the BHW training
program, assessment, and national certification program.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the
Department of Health, the Civil Service Commission, the different local government
leagues, and other appropriate government agencies, with the participation of
various health union representatives, shall formulate and provide an effective
mechanism for the selection and hiring of BHWs

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), local government units,
and other appropriate government agencies, shall allocate the necessary funds for

compensation of the barangay health team

SECTION 16. Transitory Provision. — Within one (1) year from effectivity of
this act, the TESDA, DOH, DILG, and local government units, shall allocate funds
from their annual appropriations to immediately implement section 8 —
subparagraph (b) and section 9 of this Act.


SECTION 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (80)
days from the effectivity of this act, the TESDA, DOH, DILG, CSC, DBM, the local
government leagues, in coordination and participation of various health union
representatives, shall provide the Implementing Rules and Regulations necessary
to carry out the provisions of this Act.

The Implementing Rules and Regulations shall be published in the Official

Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulatiom

SECTION 18. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be
declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain
valid and operational

SECTION 19. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 7883. Otherwise
known as the "Barangay Health Workers Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995", is
hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances, rules and
regulations
and parts thereof which are inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly

SECTION 20. Effectivity. — This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspaper of general circulation

in the Philippines.

Approved,