Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No, 8398

Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

Explanatory Note

As a manifestation of support to this timely piece of legislation, this
representation respectfully refiles this measure, which has constantly been
receiving support from the past and present congress.

The Local Government Code of 1991 is an important piece of legislation in
affirming and recognizing the importance of the role of barangays in nation
building. The need to ensure that the people working in the barangay level are
highly-motivated, effective, and capable contributes heavily in the long-term
goal attainment of the country as they, the barangay workers, are primarily
involved in the planning and implementation of local projects and programs.
Hence, the discussions on how to improve the government's approach to
motivating its workforce, properly compensating and rewarding them for quality
performance, and promoting constant appraisal of skills are relevant areas of
legislation.

The proposed measure envisions a skilled, motivated, and capable workforce in
the barangay level. Such is to be achieved by introducing improvements to the
current incentives and benefits system. Under the proposed measure, additional
benefits (e.g. trainings, workshops, additional honorariums and subsidies, and
free legal services, to name a few) will be provided to our dear barangay
officials and volunteer workers.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this is bill is earnestly
sought.

JOHN 'IN “YUL SERVO” C. NIETO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8398

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAYS THROUGH SUPPORT FOR BARANGAY
OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEER WORKERS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Officials
and Volunteer Workers incentives and Benefits Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to strengthen the barangays by providing adequate support to barangay
officials and volunteer workers and improve the provision of line government
services to the people at the barangay level. The State acknowledges the need
to provide incentives and benefits in order to properly compensate and equip
our barangay officials and volunteer workers with the necessary training and
enable them to efficiently and effectively carry out their mandated tasks for the
great benefit of our people.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - AS used in this Act, the following terms
will mean:
a) Barangay Officials refer to the officials enumerated under Section 387
(a) of Republic Act No. 7160 as amended, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991 namely, the punong barangay, sangguniang
barangay members, sangguniang kabataan chairperson, secretary and
-treasurer;
b) Volunteer Workers refer to Barangay Health Workers and member of
the Barangay Tanod Brigade;
) Barangay Health Worker (BHW) refers to a person who has undergone
training programs under any accredited government and non-government
organizations and who voluntarily renders primary health care services in
the community after having been accredited to function as such by the
local health board in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the
Department of Health (DOH); and so


d) Barangay Tanods refer to all duly appointed members of the barangay
tanod brigades, which shall number not more than twenty (20) in each
barangay as prescribed under the Local Government Code of 1991.

SECTION 4. Honorarium of BHWs and Barangay Tanods. - In order to
ease the financial burden on our barangay volunteer workers, one (1) BHW in
each barangay and barangay tanods, which shall not be more than twenty (20)
in each barangay, shall receive a monthly honorarium of at least five hundred
pesos (P500.00) chargeable against the budget of the Department of Health
(DOH) and the department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
respectively. Provided, that barangays may opt to give additional honorarium
equally to all barangay health workers, which shall be charged against the local
budget of each barangay. Provided, further, that nothing herein contained shall
diminish or remove the honorarium already granted to voluntary workers before
the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 5. Other Incentives and Benefits of Barangay Officials and
Volunteer Workers. - In recognition of their services, the national
government, shall, in addition to financial benefits, provide barangay officials
and volunteer workers with the following incentives and benefits:
a) Trainings and workshops on how to effectively exercise their duty
provided by the DILG for Barangay Tanods and DOH for BHWs, and such
other trainings 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
volunteer workers shall be covered through the full national government
subsidy scheme; and
c) Free legal services from government lawyers of the Public Attorney's
Office (PAO) for cases arising out of or in connection with the
performance of their duties as such. Provided, that such legal services
shall continue even after the expiration of the term of the barangay
Officials until its final disposition.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of the
Interior and Local Government, in consultation with the National Liga ng mga
Barangay and the Department of Health, shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations to implement this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any of the section or provision of this
Act is held invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid
and ef

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Section 393 of the Local Government Code
of 1991, Republic Act No. 7883 otherwise known as the "Barangay Health
Workers Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995 and all laws, decrees, orders, rules


and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the

date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,