TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S. B. No.
^ 1 ? i i ■ L* i ■
25 JULIO P 6 '■03
421
RliCElVLU OV;
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER “COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HEALTH CENTERS IN ALL 
BARANGAYS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people as ingrained 
in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Hence, it is a must for the government to be 
able to provide equitable and efficient access to health services starting at the base 
level of the community, the barangay. However, there is a disparity regarding the 
distribution of healthcare facilities across the country, with barangay health centers 
(BHCs) being concentrated often in urban areas. This results in limited access to 
healthcare services for citizens residing in geographically isolated and 
disadvantaged areas.
In fact, of the 42,011 barangays recorded by the Department of the Interior and 
Local Government as of March 2025, there are only 26,500 barangay health 
centers recorded by the Department of Health nationwide.1 This means that 15,511 
or 36.92% of barangays do not have BHCs. This significant gap is a reflection of 
how access to primary healthcare in the country remains highly inequitable. This 
may be due to several challenges including inefficiency in implementing universal 
health care, misprioritization of funding, and insufficient healthcare workers.
In the City of Taguig, all 38 barangays, including the EMBO barangays, have 
access to a BHC, reflecting the City’s continued commitment to making healthcare 
facilities accessible to all its constituents. The medical personnel, especially 
Barangay Health Workers stationed in these facilities, are formally employed, 
receive regular salary, and enjoy numerous benefits, including performance 
incentive bonuses, training, overtime pay, and hazard pay, among others. This 
serves as a clear example that accessible healthcare in the country is feasible.
1 No. of Barangays https://www.dila aov.ph/PDF File/factsfiaures/dila-facts-fiaures-2025429 8a3ebc0fee.pdf DILG, retrieved on 
May 14, 2025; No. of Barangay Health Centers https://nhfr.doh.aov.ph/Home DOH, as of May 13, 2025
1


This measure seeks to help build a world class primary health care system 
throughout the country by mandating every barangay in the Philippines to establish 
a Barangay Health Center in three (3) years’ time where it must be equipped with 
the following; (a) a health care center/station; (b) healthcare workers, doctors, and 
medical staff; (c) and medicine, diagnostic equipment, and other healthcare 
facilities. In addition, Barangay Health Center personnel shall be made to conduct 
home visitations, to periodically determine the public health concerns in the 
community, monitor patients, provide medical care when needed, and to help 
disseminate health-related information.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
ALAN PETER “COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
'kD’tii i Lii '.t.i ••
25 JULIO P6:03
S. B. No. 421
RtCE'.VrO Bi:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER “COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HEALTH CENTERS IN ALL 
BARANGAYS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Health Centers in
2 
All Barangays A ct. ”
3 
Sec. 2. Statement of Policy. - The State shall provide equitable and efficient
4 
access to health services starting at the base level of the community, the barangay.
5 
Healthcare that is based on practical, scientifically-sound, and socially acceptable
6 
methods and technology should be made universally accessible to individuals and
7 
families at the community level.
8 
The State shall streamline healthcare services, decongest hospitals and
9 
lessen the workload of its healthcare workers, and address ongoing and long-term
10 
community health needs by building the capacity of the community health worker
11 
workforce and health facilities. The State also endeavors to educate the
12 
community members, including regarding effective strategies to promote healthy
13 
behaviors.
14 
Sec. 3. Barangay Health Centers. - Towards this end, every barangay in the
15 
Philippines is hereby mandated to establish a Barangay Health Center.
16 
The 
province, city or municipality concerned shall provide financial
17 
assistance for the establishment, maintenance and operation of the Barangay
18 
Health Centers within their respective localities.
19 
The Sangguniang Barangay may call upon the public health sector and
20 
private volunteers, who are duly-licensed medical professionals, and utilize them
21 
to assist in the provision of primary healthcare and provide consultative services
22 
for medical needs of the members of the community.
23 
Sec. 
4. Primary Health Program. - Barangay Health Centers shall
24 
implement a Primary Healthcare program in accordance with guidelines to be set
25 
by the Department of Health (DOH). Pursuant to this, the DOH shall:


1 
(a) Formulate the criteria for the selection, qualification, and training of
2 
Barangay Health Workers and the standards for the implementation of the primary
3 
healthcare program in the barangay: and
4 
(b) Coordinate activities of the barangay, national government agencies and
5 
local government units, and non-government organizations in order that their
6 
services may be fully utilized for the attainment of the program goals.
7 
Sec. 5. Barangay Health Workers and Medical Equipment. - Each Barangay
8 
Health Center shall have at least one (1) doctor, at least one (1) nurse, at least
9 
one (1) dentist, and a sufficient number of medical assistants as may be
10 
determined by the guidelines set by the DOH based on the population of the
11 
barangay and its proximity to existing public health facilities. Priority shall be given
12 
to remote areas and cities or municipalities with limited number of health facilities.
13 
As far as practicable, Barangay Health Center personnel shall conduct home
14 
visits, to periodically determine the public health concerns in the community as well
15 
as to provide medical care, and monitor patients.
16 
The DOH shall regularly submit to the CHED and LGUs the number of
17 
Barangay Health Workers and vacancies throughout the country. The Commission
18 
on Higher Education (CHED) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) shall use
19 
this information to project the need for healthcare professionals and implement
20 
programs to address shortages, including the encouragement of the youth to
21 
pursue health-related courses.
22 
The implementing agencies of this Act shall ensure that all barangays shall
23 
have a Barangay Health Center equipped with appropriate healthcare facilities
24 
within three (3) years from the implementation of this Act.
25 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately
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include in the Department’s program the implementation of this Act, the funding of
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which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act
28 
Sec. 7. Report to Congress. - One (1) year after the implementation of this
29 
Act, the Secretary of the DOH jointly with the Secretary of the Department of the
30 
Interior and Local Government shall submit a written report to Congress detailing
31 
the actions taken to implement the provisions of this Act.
32 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared
33 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts hereof not affected thereby shall remain
34 
valid.
35 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
36 
orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with, or contrary
37 
to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed
38 
accordingly.
39 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
40 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,