TATIVES
RECENVED
pare, 17 AUG 2016

Me:

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

REGISTRATION UNIT

~ pitt [, BILLS ano INDEX SERVICE
House Bill No, __© itt

Introduced by REP. KAKA BAG-AO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 9, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution affirms the State's role in promoting a just
and dynamic social order through “policies that provide adequate social services, promote full
employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.”

The role of the barangay, as the smallest unit of government, is essential to the development of
the nation. Section 384 of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the barangay “serves
as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects
and activities in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may
be expressed, crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled.” The
successful implementation of government programs, projects and activities at the barangay level
translates into success at the national level, considering that these run parallel to the national
government's efforts for an improved quality of life for all.

This bill seeks to strengthen the barangay unit by setting the appropriate amount to be received
as honoraria, providing additional benefits and mandating capacity-building programs for our
barangay volunteer workers ~ specifically the barangay tanod, the barangay health worker, and
the barangay nutrition scholar. While the Department of Budget and Management, in its Local
Budget Circular No. 63, provides that honorarium, allowances or other emoluments may be
provided for our barangay tanods as long as it does not exceed the minimum salary rate for SG-
1, no minimum amount has been fixed for an acceptable honoraria for their service. In the same
light, no amount has been set in law in the provision of allowances for our health workers, and
the allowances set for our nutrition scholars, having been determined in 1978, is in need dire
need of adjustment. As all three are classified as volunteers who regularly provide frontline
services to their communities, fixing the honorarium they receive to 75% of the minimum wage
in the area where their barangay is situated. This amount is equivalent to what government
interns receive for the work that they provide in the duration of their internship since they are


not considered regular employees are thus not entitled to full salary and benefits, which in the
same vein, would be a sufficient amount to compensate for the service provided by our barangay
volunteer workers, given the nature of the work expected from them. Additional benefits such as
Philhealth coverage and free legal assistance must also be offered to them despite being
volunteers as they are still government workers who are the ones evidently responsible for the
execution of government programs at the grassroots level.

The barangay is at the forefront in the provision of government services, thus, it is necessary to
ensure that our barangay volunteer workers, who oversee the maintenance of peace and order
and delivery of health care services in the community, are well-equipped and adequately
compensated for their efforts.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ew)

Rat /

REP. KAKA BAG{AO
Loné District, Dinagat Islands



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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

%
House Bill No, SLL

Introduced by REP. KAKA BAG-AO.

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY UNIT BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO
BARANGAY SECURITY, HEALTH AND NUTRITION WORKERS, AMENDING
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1569, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7883, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known and cited as the “Barangay Security, Health
and Nutrition Workers’ Benefits Act."

SEC, 2. Declaration of Policy. - Section 9, Article I of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,
provides that the State shall create policies for the provision of adequate social services,
promotion of full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all
It is, thus, hereby declared the policy of the State to empower and strengthen our barangay
security, health and nutrition workers as the frontliners in the provision of government services
at the barangay level. The State acknowledges the need to adopt measures and incentive
schemes to ensure that our volunteer workers at the smallest political unit of the government are
properly compensated and capacitated to perform their official duties and functions.

SEC. 3. Coverage. - Every Barangay Tanod, Barangay Health Worker (BHW) and Barangay
Nutrition Scholar (BNS) shall be automatically covered by this Act.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following shall mean:

a. Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) refers to one (1) barangay based volunteer worker in
every barangay responsible for delivering nutrition services and other related activities

1


such as community health, backyard food production, environmental sanitation, culture,
mental feeding, and family planning to the barangay, as defined in P.D. No. 1569;

Barangay Health Worker (BHW) shall refer 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), as defined in Republic Act No, 7883 or
the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995; and

Barangay Tanod shall refer to all duly appointed members of the barangay tanod brigades,
which shall number not more than twenty (20) in each barangay as prescribed by Republic
Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

SEC. 5. Honorarium. ~ Honorarium shall be given by the National Government for services
rendered by the Barangay Volunteer Workers covered under this Act in the amount equivalent to
75% of the existing minimum wage, in accordance with the salary schedule being implemented
by the city or municipality where the barangay is located. Said amount shall be part of the budget
of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for members of the Barangay Tanod
Brigades and the Department of Health (DOH) for the BHWs and BNS.

SEC. 6. Additional Benefits. - 1n recognition of their services, volunteers shall be provided the
following benefits and incentives:

1.

Philhealth coverage, which shall include medical examination and treatment in
government hospitals, and fully subsidized by the Local Government Units or through cost-
sharing mechanisms between LGUs and other sponsors: Provided, That indigent barangay
volunteers shall be covered through full national government subsidy scheme.

Free legal services from government lawyers or private lawyers pursuant to R.A. No, 9999
and Bar Matter No. 2012, for cases arising from acts committed in the performance of
duty: Provided, That such legal services shall continue, even after the expiration of the
term of the Barangay volunteer, until its final disposition;

SEC. 7. Education and Training Programs. - The appropriate government agencies shall
develop a competency-based education and training curricula for the following:

a

Barangay Tanod - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall
implement a program designed to develop the basic skills and expertise needed for the
Barangay Tanod Brigade to perform their commitment as peace and public safety officers.
It shall include basic orientation on the structure and organization of the barangay system
of government, as well as how their duties relate to the overall governance system.

2


Courses on crime prevention and unarmed defense techniques, disaster preparedness
and management, information operation as service responders, and first aid shall also be
offered. Such program shall be credited for pre-qualification for a security guard license
or qualify the Tanod for accreditation equivalent to civic welfare service under Republic
Act No. 916;

b, Barangay Health Worker ~ The Department of Health (DOH) shall create a curriculum that
will train the community health workers as healthcare provider, community organizer,
health service manager, trainer and educator, and researcher. It shall include basic
orientation and training on health programs and institutionalized health service delivery
system, primary healthcare, basic community organizing, local health research, social
health insurance navigation, basic local resource generation and mobilization, training
needs analysis, basic report writing and communication skills, and program planning and
development. Courses on basic dental care, reproductive health, STI and HIV/AIDS
prevention, nutrition, physical therapy, basic life support, traditional and herbal medicine
and reflexology shall also be offered. Such program shall be credited as units earned in
higher education institutions with stepladder curricula that will entitle BHWs to upgrade
thelr skills and knowledge for community work or to pursue further training as midwives,
pharmacists, nurses or doctors; and

a) Barangay Nutrition Scholar — Pursuant to P.D, 1569, the Department of Health, through
the National Nutrition Council, shall adopt a training program on selected topics such as
nutrition, health, food production and environment sanitation, based on defined task
expectations before the BNS does actual barangay service. Basic orientation on nutrition
counseling, organization of mothers’ classes and breastfeeding classes, managing
community-based feeding programs, and promotion of home or community food gardens,
shall also be offered. The BNS shall be granted a civil service eligibility equivalent to
second grade after completing at least two years of continuous and satisfactory service
in the barangay, as provided by P.D. 1569.

SEC. 8. Program Cost and Cost Sharing for Local Government Units. - The basic
Education and Training Program shall be offered free of charge. Local governments shall adopt a
cost-sharing financing scheme with the National Government through the DILG for the Barangay
Tanod Brigades and DOH for BHWs and BNSs for the implementation of the basic courses
depending on the income level of the concerned local government units.

SEC. 9. Funding Source. - An initial allocation of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be
included in the General Appropriations to support the policies and objectives under this Act.
Congress shall provide subsequent appropriations in the annual budget of the Department of
Health from sin tax revenues for BHWs and BNSs,

SEC. 10, Non-diminution of Benefits. — Nothing in this law shall be construed to eliminate or
in any way diminish entitlements, or other benefits being provided to or enjoyed by the Barangay

3


Tanod under Republic Act No. 7160, the BHW under Republic Act No. 7883 and the BNS under
Presidential Decree No. 1569, or other laws and issuances, at the time of the promulgation of this
Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - DILG, DOH, including the National
Nutrition Council, Local Government Units (LGUs), and other appropriate government agencies,
shall issue the rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act within ninety
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be declared unconstitutional,
the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and operational.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. — R.A. No. 7851, otherwise known as The Local Government Code,
R.A. No. 7851 or the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995 and
Presidential Decree No. 1569 which Provides for a Nutrition Scholar in Every Barangay, are hereby
amended accordingly.

All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,