NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
figll Ornate
■22 JUL 14 PI -49
SENATE
Senate Bill No.
597
BY'
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY UNIT THROUGH SUPPORT FOR BARANGAY 
OFFICIALS AND BARANGAY VOLUNTEER WORKERS, AMENDING REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 7160, PROVIDING 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 and financial empowerment. 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 
tanods^n6 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.
MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
®|| Senate
^ of Hk' •€;'f a
*22 JUL 14 PI 'A9
SENATE
Senate Bill No.
597
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY UNIT THROUGH SUPPORT FOR BARANGAY 
OFFICIALS AND BARANGAY VOLUNTEER WORKERS, AMENDING REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 7160, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Support for Barangay
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Workers Act".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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empower and strengthen our barangay officials and barangay volunteer workers in order
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to sufficiently provide front line government services to the Filipino people in the barangay
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level. The State acknowledges the need to provide for the financial burden of rendering
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service and the need to properly compensate and capacitate barangay officials and
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volunteers.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall
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mean:
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a) Barangay Health Worker (BHW) - a person who has undergone training programs
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under any accredited government or non-government organization and who
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voluntarily renders primary health care services in the community after having
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been accredited to function as such by the local health board In accordance with
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the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Health (DOH); and
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b) Barangay Tanod - all duly appointed members of the barangay tanod brigades,
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which shall not be more than twenty (20) in each barangay as prescribed by
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Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.
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Sec. 4. Honorarium of BHWs and Barangay Tanods. - In order to ease the 
financial burden on our barangay officials and volunteers, the following benefits shall be 
given by the National Government for services rendered by the following barangay 
workers:
a) One (1) BMW in each barangay shall receive a monthly honorarium of not less than 
Five Hundred pesos (Php 500) from the DOH
b) At least twenty (20) tanodsm each barangay, shall receive a monthly honorarium 
of not less than Five Hundred pesos (Php 500) from the Department of Interior 
and Local Government (DILG).
The barangays may choose to give an additional honorarium to the 
aforementioned volunteers: Provided, That such additional honorarium shall be charged 
against the local budgets of each barangay: Provided further. That barangays shall ensure 
that all BHWs receive the same honorarium.
Sec. 5. Capacity Building for Barangay Officials and Volunteer Workers. 
- In addition to financial benefits, the National Government shall provide the following to 
barangay officials and volunteer workers:
a) Training and workshops on how to effectively exercise their duty provided by the 
DILG for tanods and DOH for BHWs, and any other such training fit for barangay 
officials and volunteer workers.
b) Philhealth coverage for BHWs, which shall include medical examination and 
treatment in government hospitals, and fully subsidized by the National 
Government through the DOH: Provided, That indigent barangay volunteers shall 
be covered through the full national government subsidy scheme.
c) Free legal services from government lawyers of the Public Attorney's Office 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. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DILG, in consultation 
with the National Liga ng mga Barangay and DOH, shall issue the rules and regulations 
to implement this Act within ninety (90) days after its approval.
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or 
other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly.


SEC. 9. Effectivity, - 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,