GSFlt t . 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
i 
S E N A T E  
A 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIII, Section 11 of the Constitution provides that the State should adopt 
an integrated and comprehensive approach to. health development which shall 
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all 
people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, 
sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. 
Republic Act 7883, also known as the "Barangay Health Workers and Benefits & 
Incentives Acts of 1995," provides incentives and benefits which include hazard 
allowance, subsistence allowance, civil service eligibility, free legal services and 
preferential access to loan to accredited barangay health workers. This bill seeks to 
further provide an adequate health insurance program to the barangay health workers, 
the true unsung heroes who devote their lives to serve the Filipino people. 
While the Philippines is the leading exporter of nurses and the second major 
exporter of physicians, it is a sad irony that they migrate because of low salaries, 
problems of unemployment, unjust working conditions and denied benefits. 
According to the Department of Health, there are 199,546 active barangay health 
workers (BHW) all over the country. They have the most number among all health 
workers in the country. 
The poor Filipinos in barangays deserve to be administered affordable and 
accessible healthcare by their highly-skilled compatriots. Barangay Health Workers, 
vulnerable because they are in the frontline in the State's battle for ensuring the health 
of its citizens, deserve to be armored with an adequate health insurance program. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
~~~-~~~~~ 
t?% 
I- 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN 
ACT 
GRANTING 
COMPULSORY 
COVERAGE 
TO 
ACCREDITED 
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE 
PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known as the 
"Barangay Health Workers' Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995", is hereby amended by 
adding a new subsection which shall read as follows: 
"SEC. 6. Incentives and Benefits. - x x x 
"(G) PHILHEALTH COMPULSORY COVERAGE. - ALL BARANGAY 
HEALTH WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS SHALL BE 
ENROLLED IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM 
FOR THEM TO RECEIVE AND AVAIL OF AN ADEQUATE 
PACKAGE OF PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT MUST 
EMERGENCY AND TRANSFER SERVICES, AND ALSO OTHER 
SUPPLEMENTARY HEALTH BENEFITS AS MAY BE DEFINED BY 
THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION (PHIC) 
AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT (LGU) WHERE THEY 
RENDER SERVICES. 
INCLUDE IN-PATIENT HOSPITAL CARE, OUT-PATIENT CARE, 
"THE NEEDED PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS AND, THEREAFTER, 
THE STANDARD MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS, SHALL BE BORNE 
BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT; SUCH THAT, UPON THE 
PASSAGE OF THIS ACT, THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS 
AND 
THEIR 
DEPENDENTS 
SHALL 
BE 
AUTOMATICALLY 
ENTITLED TO THE FULL ENJOYMENT AND AVAILMENT OF 
ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES AS CONTAINED IN REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 7875 OR THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT. 
"THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED 
TO PAY MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS AND ALL OTHER FEES OR 
CHARGES FOR THEM TO BE ENTITLED TO THE PROGRAM'S 
BENEFITS." 


SEC. 2. Oversight Provision. - Congress shall conduct a regular review of this 
program which shall primarily evaluate its implementation with regard to its impact 
and accomplishments. Such review shall be jointly undertaken by the committees in the 
Senate and the House of Representatives which have legislative jurisdiction over this 
program. 
SEC. 3. Government Guarantee. - The government of the Republic of the 
Philippines guarantees the financial viability of this program. 
SEC. 4. Rules and Regulations. - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, 
in consultation and coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government and the leagues of governors, vice governors and mayors of the 
Philippines, shall formulate within one hundred (100) days the rules and regulations 
necessary to implement this Act. 
SEC. 5. Separability CIause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the 
remainder or any of the provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and 
effect. 
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential 
issuances and other administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,