Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

9990
HOUSE BILL NO. Bdae

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The national health policy of our country is clearly articulated in
Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution in this wise:
"The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to
health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods,
health and other social services available to all the people at affordable
cost." By virtue of Section 17 of Title I of the 1991 Local Government
Code, the delivery of basic services and fa ies such as health and
social welfare services were devolved to the local government units
down to the barangay level. Thus, the barangay health centers and
daycare centers are maintained with the help of barangay health
workers who voluntarily render primary health care services to the
community.

It is, however, ironic that while barangay health workers are the
front-liners in providing health care services to the community, there
is no existing mechanism to secure that all barangays are equipped
with the services of their own barangay health worker. This bill seeks
to remedy this situation.

This proposed measure mandates the appointment of at least 1
barangay health worker in each and every barangay. The barangay
health worker shall be appointed by the municipal or city mayor, after
proper accreditation with the local health board. Further, the barangay
health worker shall be entitled to allowances and such other benefits
accorded to other appointed barangay officials. More importantly,
security of tenure of barangay health workers is expressly provided
and recognized by the proposed measure. The passage of this
proposed measure will strengthen the capacity of barangays to deliver
basic health services to the community at the same time affording the
barangay health workers their well-deserved entitlements and
benefits.

In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly

requested.

JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, __ 2992

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS IN EVERY BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT 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
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the
“Barangay Health Workers Act of 2010.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Article XIII,
Section 11 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 level. Thus, to secure the
availability and delivery of barangay health needs, the State shall
guarantee the appointment of a health worker 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 the guidelines issued by the
Department of Health (DPH). 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 Sections 395
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 1995, SHALL BE APPOINTED 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 ALLOWANCES AND
SUCH OTHER BENEFITS TO WHICH OTHER APPOINTED
BARANGAY OFFICIALS MAY BE ENTITLED TO. NO PERSON DULY
APPOINTED 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 the Philippines, 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 lupong
tagapamayapa, 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

than 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, howeve4 that the annual appropriations for personal
services shall be subject to the budgetary limitations prescribed
under Title Five, Book II of this Code; PROVIDED
FURTHERMORE, THAT THE BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THIS CODE
SHALL BE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE APPLICATION OF AND
ENTITLEMENT 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 WORKER shall also:

XO

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The
Department of Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the
and 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 or invalid, other provisions
hereof which are not effected 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 thereof
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,