FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
.,', ' 
S. B. I'~O. 143 
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) 
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Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) are volunteers accredited by the Local Health 
Board who have been trained to provide primary health care services in the community 
in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Health. They are 
front liners in the delivery of primary health care services in the grassroots level. 
Recognizing the active role of the BHWs as frontliners in primary health care, 
Republic Act No. 7883 otherwise known as the Magna Carta for BHWs was passed in 
1995. The law provides incentives and benefits to all accredited BHWs who are actively 
and regularly performing their duties such as hazard and subsistence allowance, 
educational programs, scholarships, civil service eligibility, free legal services and 
preferential access to loan. However, since BHWs are not compulsory members of 
both the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEAL TH) and the Government 
Service Insurance System (GSIS), this in effect, denies our BHWS of the basic health, 
retirement, disability and funeral benefits that they truly deserve. 
Considering the contribution and critical role that our BHWs play in society, this 
bill seeks to make the membership of all accredited BHWs to PHILHEAL TH and GSIS 
compulsory thereby expanding and increasing the benefits they are currently receiving. 
For the BHWs who devotedly and tirelessly provide primary health care service 
to the Filipino people, the approval of this Bill is urgently sought. 
sf::,l,; ~CAYETANO 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. B('No. 14:3 
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Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO 
AN ACT 
GRANTING COMPULSORY COVERAGE TO ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM AND THE 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM, 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: 
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SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known as the 
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"Barangay Health Workers' Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995," is hereby amended by 
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adding new sUbsections to read as follows: 
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"SEC. 6. Incentives and Benefits. - x x x 
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U(F) 
PHILHEALTH 
COMPULSORY 
COVERAGE. 
-
ALL 
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BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS SHALL 
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BE ENROLLED IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM 
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TO ENABLE THEM TO RECEIVE AND AVAIL OF AN ADEQUATE 
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PACKAGE OF PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING BUT NOT 
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LIMITED TO IN-PATIENT HOSPITAL CARE, OUT-PATIENT CARE, 
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EMERGENCY AND TRANSFER SERVICES, AND ALSO OTHER 
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SUPPLEMENTARY HEALTH BENEFITS, AS MAY BE DEFINED BY 
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THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION (PHIC) AND 
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THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT (LGU) WHERE THEY RENDER 
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SERVICES. 
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U(G) GSIS COMPULSORY COVERAGE. -
ALL BARANGAY 
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HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE ENROLLED IN THE GOVERNMENT 
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SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM TO ENABLE THEM TO RECEIVE AND 
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AVAIL OF THE RETIREMENT, DISABILITY AND FUNERAL BENEFITS 
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AND ALSO OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFITS, AS MAY BE 
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DEFINED BY THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM. 
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I 
SEC. 2. 
The premium contribution and thereafter, the standard monthly 
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contributions, shall be borne by the LGU concerned; Provided, That the National 
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Government shall subsidize fifty percent (50%) of the contributions of fourth, fifth and 
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sixth class municipalities. 
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Upon the passage of this Act, the barangay health workers shall be automatically 
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entitled to the full enjoyment and availment of essential health services, as contained in 
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Republic Act No. 7875 or the National Health Insurance Act, and the retirement, 
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disability and burial benefits and other supplemental benefits, as may be defined by 
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Republic Act No. 8391 or The Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997. 
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Barangay health workers shall not be required to pay monthly contributions and 
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all other fees or charges for them to be entitled to these benefits. 
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SEC. 3. Oversight Provision. - Congress shall conduct a regular review of this 
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program which shall primarily evaluate its implementation with regard to its impact and 
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accomplishments. Such review shall be jointly undertaken by the appropriate 
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committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives which have legislative 
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jurisdiction over this program. 
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SEC. 4. Rules and Regulations. - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
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and the Government Service Insurance System, in consultation and coordination with 
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the appropriate government agencies, such as, but not limited to, the Department of 
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Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and 
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Management, and the leagues of governors, vice governors, mayors, and barangay 
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captains of the Philippines, shall formulate within two hundred (200) days the rules and 
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regulations necessary to implement this Act. 
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SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the 
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remainder or any of the provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and 
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effect. 
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SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential 
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issuances and other administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof which are 
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inconsistent with this Act are hereby.repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 7. Effectivity. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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