Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 5883.

Introduced by 2™ District of Agusan del Norte Representative
HON. MA. ANGELICA M. AMANTE-MATBA

EXPLANATORY NOTE
‘This bill seeks to provide the magna carta of barangay animal health workers.

The livestock industry is a major source of livelihood in rural communities. It is one
of the main sources of income of small farmers. However, animals in the livestock industry
are vulnerable to various diseases and epidemics. This is further complicated by the limited
and difficult access to veterinary services especially in the far-flung areas.

This scenario prompted the Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural
‘Training Institute, and in coordination with the local government units, to conduct the
“Training on Animal Health Care and Management for Barangay Animal Health Worker.”
This training aims at capacitating leading livestock farmers to become barangay animal health
workers who help in the delivery of basic animal health care services. Basic animal health care
services include deworming, castration, administration of injectable and oral vitamins and other
related tasks such as identification of the clinical signs of animal diseases, basic animal
production and animal husbandry practices. Presently, this training is being conducted only in
some pilot areas of Cordillera Administrative Region but yet to be implemented in the entire
country.

Recently, there were outbreaks of epidemics in the country that affected domestic
animals in different areas of the Philippines such as African swine fever and foot-and-mouth
disease. This situation demands for adequate animal healthcare services particularly in remote
places where access to veterinary services are limited.

This bill aims to promote and institutionalize the position of barangay animal health
workers. Under this proposed measure, after appropriate training, any qualified applicant may
register and apply as barangay animal health worker in any of the regional offices of the
Department of Agriculture. The registered and qualified applicants may be assigned by the
Department of Agriculture in the city or municipality where they reside to perform and
implement quality basic animal health services under the supervision of the municipal, city or
provincial veterinarians. Further, in this proposed measure, local government units may
provide additional allowances to barangay animal health workers in their respective
jurisdiction, such as hazard and subsistence allowances.


Barangay animal health workers will play an important part in combating epidemics in
our communities. The proposed measure will contribute positively to the goal of the
government in achieving fast, effective and efficient delivery of basic veterinary services in
our barangays.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5283

Introduced by 2nd District of Agusan del Norte Representative
HON. MA. ANGELICA M. AMANTE-MATBA

AN ACT PROVIDING
THE MAGNA CARTA OF BARANGAY ANIMAL HEALTH WORKERS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of Barangay
Animal Health Workers.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. —Itis the policy of the State to protect and promote the
livestock industry as one of the major sources of livelihood of the people especially in the rural
areas. Towards this end, the State adopts policies that improve the social and economic well-
being and welfare of the barangay animal health workers who are in the forefront in the delivery
of animal health care services at the grassroots level. The State shall promote their living and
working conditions and develop their skills and capabilities in order to deliver a more
responsive and better animal health care projects and programs in the barangays by providing
standard policies on their benefits, trainings and working conditions.

SEC. 3. Coverage. ~ This Act covers all registered barangay animal health workers
(BAHWS) assigned in any city or municipality who perform basic animal health care services
and programs.

For purposes of this Act, barangay animal health workers refer to qualified and
registered individuals employed by Department of Agriculture (DA) to perform basic animal

health care services such as vaccinations, deworming, defluking, castration, administration of


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injectable and oral vitamins, disease detection and surveillance, first aid treatments and other
related tasks in barangays under the supervision of the municipal, city or provincial
veterinarian.

SEC. 4. Recruitment, — The recruitment policy and minimum requirements with
respect to the selection and appointment of BAHWs shall be developed by the Department of
Agriculture, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, in
accordance with civil service rules and regulations.

SEC. 5. Qualification. — To be entitled to the benefits and incentives under this Act,
BAHWs must undertake and complete the basic animal health care trainings provided by
the DA or any accredited government and non-government organizations which include: (a)
basic orientation and training on animal health care service program; (b) institutionalizing
animal health care service; (c) local animal health research; (4) basic veterinary practices; (¢)
basic animal production; (f) animal husbandry practices; (g) identification of the clinical signs
of animal diseases; and (h) proper care and management of animals.

A cettificate shall be issued by the DA upon completion of the training program.

After attending and completing the training program for basic animal health care
services and other veterinary practices, any qualified applicant may register and apply as
barangay animal health worker in any of the regional offices of the Department of Agriculture.
A BAHW may be assigned in the city or municipality where the BAHW resides.

SEC. 6. Salaries. — All registered BAHWs are entitled to a compensation equivalent to
a salary grade eight (8), under Republic Act No. 6758, as amended, otherwise known as the
“Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989."

SEC. 7. Working Hours. - BAHWs are required to render eight (8) working hours a

day or a total of forty (40) working hours a week: Provided, That the municipal, city or


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provincial veterinarian may require BAHW to render services beyond the required hours during
emergency situations.

SEC. 8. Hazard Allowance. ~ Municipalities or cities may grant hazard allowance to
BAHWs assigned in their jurisdiction who are exposed to situations, conditions or factors
Where unavoidable danger or risk exists that endanger their health or life, or increase the danger
or risk in the exercise of their duties.

SEC. 9. Subsistence Allowance. ~The municipality, city or province may also grant
subsistence allowance to BAHWs which is computed in accordance with the prevailing rate in
their respective localities.

SEC. 10. Training, Education and Career Enrichment Programs. ~The DA and other
government agencies or non-government organizations, shall provide opportunities for the
following:

(a) Educational programs which recognize years of primary animal health care service
as credits to higher education in institutions with stepladder curricula that may entitle BAHWs
to upgrade their skills and knowledge for community work or to pursue further training to assist
the municipal, city or provincial veterinarian;

(b) Continuing education, study and exposure tours, training, grants, field immersion,
scholarships; and

(©) Special training programs and other programs that address community animal health
care services, problems and issues.

SEC. 11. Free Legal Services. — Legal representation and consultation services for
BAHWs shall be provided by the Public Attorneys Office in cases of coercion, interference,
and in other civil and criminal cases filed by or against BAHWs arising out of or in connection

with the performance of their duties.


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SEC. 12. Appropriation. — The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shall be charged to the annual appropriations of the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter,
such sum as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the
approval of this Act, the Secretary of the Agriculture shall, in consultation with the Secretary
of the Interior and Local Government, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and their
implementing rules, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.

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

Approved,