Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
4890

House Bill No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The term “ barangay health worker” (BHW) refers to a
person who has undergone training programs under any
accredited government and non-government organization 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. Based from said
definition, BHWs are trained persons who voluntarily act as
health educators, community organizers and primary health care
providers in local communities. BHWs are front liners of health
care system in the country and they play a vital role in the
society. However, BHWs receive so little as their allowances
despite the altruism that they provide for their local
communities. Our BHWs deserve more.

In an effort to promote and improve the social well-being
and welfare of BHWs, this Bill seeks to provide incentives and
benefits for them in exchange for the valuable service that they
provide the country. Providing them with such is a step forward
to in guaranteeing their enhanced quality of life which they most
definitely deserve.

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

enor,
ERIC OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4890
House Bill No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR
BARANGAY 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 for Barangay Health Workers"

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the
state to protect and promote the right to health of people
and 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. Likewise, the Philippine government is
committed to the achievement of the millennium
development goals (MDGs), which includes targets on
improving health indicators globally. It shall then be its
declared policy to promote and improve the social well-
being and welfare of the Barangay Health Workers who
are the forefront of the delivery of health care in the
grassroots level. Towards this end, the State shall adopt
policies that will guarantee enhanced quality of life of the
Barangay Health Workers.


SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -

a) Barangay Health Worker (BHW) - refers to a
person who has completed the basic training program
for Barangay Health Workers of DOH or training
programs by any accredited government or non-
government organization | and who voluntarily
renders primary health services in the community after
having been accredited to function as such by the
Local Health Board (LHB);

b) Registered BHW - shall refer to an individual who
has qualified the definition stated under Sec.3a of this
Act, whose application for registration as BHW has been
duly processed and evaluated by the BHW-RAC and
who shall render at least one year of service in his/her
barangay in fulfillment of the requirement for
accreditation stipulated under SEC. 8 of this Act.

c) Accredited BHW - shall refer to a registered
BHW who has been issued with a certificate of
accreditation by the local health board after having
rendered at least one (1) year service in the barangay
as required under Sec. 8 of this Act, who voluntarily
renders primary health in the community and who shall be
entitled to the benefits and incentives under the act and be
issued a BHW privilege card.

d) BHW Registration and Accreditation Committee
(BHW-RAC) - refers to the local body established under
Republic Act 7883 which facilitates the registration and
accreditation of Barangay Health Workers.

SEC. 4, Coverage - This policy shall cover all
registered and accredited © barangay _—health workers
nationwide who voluntarily render primary health care
services and other health promotion functions: Provided,


That they are not receiving regular salaries from any
government agency or institution

SEC. 5. Provision of Barangay Health Worker
There shall be provided at least one (1) health worker in
every barangay throughout the country. Such health
worker shall be under the control and supervision of the
Department of Health in close coordination with the
Local Government Health Officer. As far as practicable, the
barangay health worker to be employed must be living in the
barangay where he/she is to be assigned, or within the city
or municipality in which the barangay is to be found

SEC. 6. Basic Training Program for Barangay Health
Work- The DOH shall develop a threes month _ training
program for BHW applicants. The first month that shall
include basic orientation and training on health programs
and institutionalized health service delivery system,
primary healthcare, basic community organizing, _ local
health research, basic local resource generation and
mobilization, training needs analysis, basic report writing
and communication skills, and program planning and
development. The program will also offer seminars on basic
dental care, reproductive health, STI and HIV/AIDS
prevention, nutrition, physical therapy, traditional and
herbal medicine and reflexology.

As a requirement for the completion of the training
program, applicants shall undergo an internship program
where they will render health and community services in
their own rural health units for two months to integrate their
learning from the orientation and with community
healthcare services delivery.

A certificate of completion shall be issued by the
municipal health officer to those who have finished the
basic training program for barangay health work.


The DOH shall also be responsible with the development
and updating of refresher courses that shall be availed by
BHW s every three years.

SEC. 7. Registration - The City/Municipal BHW
Registration and Accreditation Committee (BHW-RAC)
established under Republic Act 7883, shall evaluate
applications of BHWs and process the registration and
accreditation of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). The
BHW-RAC shall propose the limitations on the number of
BHWs per municipality or city based on the health needs and
accessibility of health services in the area.

a) Qualifications for Registration - To qualify for
registration, the applicant must meet the qualification
standards to be developed by DOH and must undergo the DOH
basic training program for BHWs. Qualification standards
shall include, among others, educational attainment of the
applicant.

b) Procedure of Registration - The BHW applicant shall
submit to BHW-RAC his/her application and documents’ as
may be required by the DOH. The BHW-RAC shall release
result of the screening not later than seven (7) working days
after the submission of complete application documents. If
the applicant is deemed qualified, the BHW-RAC shall order
for the three-month training of the applicant. Upon the
submission of the certificate of completion, the BHW-RAC shall
release a certificate of registration to the applicant.

SEC. 8. Accreditation. - In order for Barangay Health
Workers to be entitled to some benefits and incentives under
this Act, they must be duly-accredited by the local health
board: Provided, That the BHW who will be eligible for
accreditation must have rendered at least one (1) year of
service in his/her Barangay. Accredited BHWs shall be provided
with a certificate of accreditation and a BHW Privilege Card.

The accreditation to be granted by the local health board
shall be valid for 3 years. BHWs who wish to extend serving in


their municipalities shall apply for renewal of accreditation to
the BHW-RAC.

The local health boards, through the provincial health
boards in the case of municipalities, shall furnish a copy of
registered and accredited BHWs to the DOH, which is hereby
mandated to maintain a national registry of barangay health
workers.

SEC. 9. Re-Appointment and Re-Accreditation of BHWs
- only BHWS who have undergone a refresher course or training
shall be re-appointed by the BHW-RAC.

SEC. 10, BHW Registry - The CHDs shall be responsible
in updating the BHW registry in their respective regions and
shall submit an updated copy to the DOH Central office every
quarter who shall be responsible in maintaining the national
BHW registry, which shall be the reference of agencies that will
be providing incentives and benefits to BHWs.

SEC. 11. BHW Privilege Card - All accredited Barangay
Health Workers shall be provided with a privilege card as a
proof that they are entitled to the benefits and incentives
granted under this Act.

SEC. 12, Incentives and Benefits -

1. Hazard Allowance - All registered Barangay Health
Workers performing services in difficult areas, strife-tom
or embattled areas, distresses or isolated stations,
disease infested areas or in areas declared under state of
calamity or emergency for the duration thereof which
expose them to great danger, contagion, radiation, volcanic
activity/eruption occupational risks or perils to life as
determined by the local health board and the local
government unit concerned shall receive hazard allowance:
Provided, That the hazard allowance shall not be more than
the hazard allowance received by the rural health nurse in
the barangay as mandated in Republic Act No.


2. Subsistence Allowance - All registered Barangay
Health Workers who render service within the premise of
isolated Barangay health stations in order to make their
services available at any and all times shall be entitled to
subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals they take in
the course of their duty, which shall be computed in
accordance with prevailing circumstances as determined
by the local government unit concerned: Provided, That
the subsistence allowance shall not be more than the
subsistence allowance received by the rural health nurse
in the barangay as mandated in Republic Act No. 7305.

3. Remote Assignment Allowance - All registered
Barangay Health Workers rendering services in remote
areas or isolated barangays, which for reasons of far
distance makes health care facilities inaccessible for the
residents, shall be entitled to an incentive bonus in the form
of remote assignment allowance: Provided, That the remote
assignment allowance shall not be more than the subsistence
allowance received by the rural health nurse in the
barangay as mandated in Republic Act No. 7305.

4. PHILHEALTH Compulsory Coverage- All accredited
Barangay Health Workers 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
include in-patient hospital care, out-patient care,
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.

5. Medical Examination - Compulsory medical
examination shall be provided free of charge to all public
health workers before entering BHW service and shall be
repeated once a year as long as the BHW is still rendering
services in their respective barangays.


6. Compensation from Work-Related Injuries - Any
injury incurred by BHWs during the performance of their
duties shall be compensated The DOH shall release the
corresponding rate of payment per possible injury.

7, Free Legal Services - Free legal representation and
consultation services shall likewise be available for all
accredited barangay health workers by the Public Attorney's
Office. The DOH shall also endeavor to enter into a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Integrated
Bar Association of the Philippines (IBP) to allow lawyers
who will provide free legal assistance to BHWs be granted
mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) credits;

8 Training, Education and Career Enrichment
Programs - The DOH, in coordination with CHED and the
University of the Philippines shall provide scholarships
and opportunities for continuing trainings and studies for
accredited BHWs. The program will include but not limited to
the following:

a. Scholarship programs to courses that
will upgrade their skills and knowledge for community
work including but not limited to Bachelor of Science in
Community Health, Midwifey, Nursing, Pharmacy and
Medicine: Provided, that the BHW who will be afforded with
scholarships is required to serve for at least five years after
graduating from their chosen courses.

b. Study and exposure tours that will improve their
knowledge on community health works as may be funded by
the DOH or the LGU concerned.

9. Support for Program Scholars - Courses under
the training, education and career enrichment programs
shall be offered to BHWs free of charge. The Department of
Health shall offer full scholarships, socialized subsidies, and
"study now pay later" schemes for BHWs availing of the
scholarship programs.


10. Accreditation of Work Experience for Degree
Equivalent - The DOH, in coordination with CHED, shall
release mechanisms or guidelines on the accreditation
of years of service rendered by BHWs equivalent to
appropriate degree in the field of medicine and community
and social work that are available in state universities and
colleges.

11. Grant of Scholarships to Dependents of BHWs -
College scholarships to any state universities and colleges
or TESDA scholarships shall be granted to a maximum
of two (2) children of accredited BHWs.

12. Civil Service Eligibility - a civil service eligibility
shall be granted to a duly accredited barangay health worker
who has rendered to at least five (5) years of continuous
service to the barangay, Provided, That the certificate of
accreditation is valid. Provided, further, that the one year
service requirement for accreditation under this act,
which was rendered while a registered BHW, shall not be
considered in the five-year minimum requirement for the
grant of civil service eligibility. The eligibility granted shall be
appropriate for appointment to corresponding first level
positions as may be determined by the civil service
commission

SEC. 13. Retirement Age - The mandatory retirement
age for BHW s shall be 65 years old. However, an optional
retirement shall also be available for those who have reached
60 to 64 years of age. Accredited BHW s qualified under this
provision can avail of the retirement benefits under GSIS.

SEC. 14. Appropriations - An annual appropriation of
Fifty Million Pesos (PhP50,000,000) shall be included in
the annual budget of the Department of Health to finance
the training modules of the Barangay Health Workers.
Another Fifty Million Pesos (PhPSO,000,000) shall be
annually included in the budget of the Department of
Interior and Local Government to cover the two (2) month


internship program of the Barangay Health Workers,
provided however, that this fund allocation shall be
released directly by the DILG to the respective barangay
upon their submission to and approval of the cost of
Barangay Health Workers internship program by the local
health development officer.

Premium payments for the benefits of BHWs shall
be borne by the LGU concerned: Provided, That the
national government shall subsidize fifty percent (50%) of
the contributions of fourth, fifth and sixth class
municipalities.

Any expenditure by LGUs for the benefits of BHWs
shall be exempted from the limit on the allocation for
personal services of LGUs as provided for under Sec. 325,
Article 1, Chapter 3, Title
5, Book 2 of Republic Act 7160.

SEC. 15. Penalties - any person, government official
or health worker who shall be proven to have assigned
tasks to BHWs that can only be performed by licensed
health workers or any task that are not part of the function
of BHWs as provided in the IRR of RA 7883 shall pay a fine
of not less than 5,000 pesos.

Local governments shall adopt a cost-sharing
financing scheme for the implementation of the basic
course on Barangay Health Workers depending on the
income level of the concerned local government units.

SEC. 16, Implementing Rules and Regulations - The
Department of Health, in consultation with the Department
of Interior and Local Government, Civil Service
Commission, CHED, TESDA, GSIS and the National
Confederation of Barangay Health Workers, shall prepare
within one hundred and eighty (180) days the necessary
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this
Act. Rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section


shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in a
newspaper of general circulation.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act
is declared invalid, the remainder or any of this provision hereof
not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 18, 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. 19. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in at least two (2) national

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,