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~ INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE Al RED VARGAS

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH ‘WORKERS IN EVERY
BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO- 7160 OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, FURTHER EXPANDING THE
BENEFITS OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The barangay is the foundational unit of Philippine governance; the first port of call for
every Filipino citizen. It must, as such, provide optimal basic services that will address
the everyday concerns of the people-from concern about peace and order, to concerns
about sanitation and waste management, to concerns about medical and dental care.

Affordable and accessible health care is an especially glaring concern, particularly in
far-flung areas that are yet to have easy access to hospitals. Even in urban areas, steep
prices often bar underprivileged sectors from seeking necessary medical attention.
There is a need, then, to better our barangay-level health care system, in order four our
people to receive immediate medical attention through an accessible and affordable
avenue.

Health services are a mandated function of the barangay, as per Section 17 of Republic
Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which states that the barangay
shall provide ‘health and social welfare services which include maintenance of
barangay health center and day-care But while RA 7160 mandates that the barangay
provide health services, it does not ‘mandate the appointment of full-time health
workers to ably deliver said services

‘This bill seeks to address that oversight by ensuring that every barangay will have a
proportionate number of accredited full-time health workers, thereby guaranteeing
phat the barangay fulfills its obligation to provide health services. These health
‘workers shall be appointed by the municipal oF city mayor, given that they are
credited by the local health board. These health workers will have security of tenure.


With the designation of barangay health workers, citizens in all corners of the nation
will be able to enjoy their right to accessible, affordable, and quality health care.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is urgently sought.

\LFRED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
FirstRegular Session

3291

HOUSE BILL NO.

___INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN EVERY
BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, FURTHER EXPANDING THE
BENEFITS OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Barangay Health
Workers Act of 2019.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987
Philippine Constitution, the State hereby declares the policy of according utmost
importance to the health needs of the nation and shall henceforth endeavor to make
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable
Cost. Toward this end, the State shall ensure that accessible and quality health services
are extended to each individual through the barangay health workers as the primary
channel for implementing the State's health policies down to the barangay health needs
the State shall guarantee the appointment of a health workers in every barangay as
frontline health workers.

SEC. 3. Coverage. ~The provisions of this Act shall be applicable to all barangay
health workers accredited to act as such by the local health board in accordance with
guidelines issued by the Department of Health (DOH). For the purposes of this Act, the
term barangay health worker shall refer to a person who has undergone training
program under any accredited government or non-government organization primarily
to render health care services.

SEC. 4. Section 387 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991, as amended, shall be further amended to read as follows:

“Section 387. Chief Officials and Officers. - (a) There shall be in each barangay a
Punong Barangay, seven (7) Sangguniang Barangay members, the Sangguniang Kabataan
chairman, a barangay secretary, (and) a barangay treasurer,AND AT LEAST FIVE (5)
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS: PROVIDED, THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF


BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS PER BARANGAY SHALL IN NO CASE BE MORE
THAN 1% OF THE BARANGAY'S TOTAL POPULATION.”

SEC. 5. A New provision shall be inserted between Section 359 and 396 of the
same Act to be denominated as Section 395-A, which shall read as follows:

“SECTION 395-A. APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS OF BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS - THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER AS ACCREDITED AND
RECOMMENDED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY HEALTH BOARD IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND BENEFITS ACT OF 1996, SHALL BE
APPPOINTED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY MAYOR OF THE AREA WHERE SUCH
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER WILL BE APPOINTED IS LOCATED. A BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HONORARIA, ALLOWANCES AND SUCH
OTHER BENEFITS TO WHICH OTHER APPOINTED BARANGAY OFFICIALS MAY BE
ENTITLED TO. NO PERSON DULYAPPOINTED AS A BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER
SHALL BE REMOVED EXCEPT FOR VALID CAUSE AS PROVIDED UNDER EXISTING
CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ONLY AFTER DUE NOTICE AND
HEARING.”

SEC. 6. Section 393, paragraphs (a) and (b) of the Local Government Code of
1991, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Section 393. Benefits of Barangay Officials. -

(a) Barangay officials, including barangay tanods, and members of the
lupongtagapamayapa, shall receive honoraria, allowances, and such other
emoluments as may be authorized by law or barangay, municipal or city
ordinance in accordance with the provisions of this Code, but in no case shall
it be less that One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) per month for the punong
barangay and Six Hundred Pesos (P600.00) per month for the sangguniang
barangay members, barangay treasurer, [and] barangay secretary AND
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS: Provided, however, That the annual
appropriations for personal services shall be subject to budgetary limitations
prescribed under Title Five, Book Il of this Code: PROVIDED
FURTHERMORE, THAT THE BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THIS CODE SHALL
BE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE APPLICATION OF AND EN’ ITLEMENT
TO OTHER INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS FOR BARANGAY OFFICIALS AS
MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW SUCH AS REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6942 AND
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT.

(b) The Punong Barangay, the Sangguniang Barangay members the Barangay
treasurer, [and] the Barangay secretary AND THE BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS shall also: x x

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior
and Local Government, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission, shall within
ninety (90) days from the enactment of this Act, promulgate the rules and regulations
necessary for the implementation of this Act


SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional on invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
and administrative regulations or parts hereof inconsistent herewith are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect immediately after its
publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.