Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3903

Introduced by Representative Reynante U. Arrogancia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution states that 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. The Local Government Code provides
that local government units (LGUs) shall provide basic services in primary health care, maternal and child
care, and disease control services. At the grassroots level in barangays, the Barangay Health Workers
(BHW5) serve as frontliners in providing basic health services that enable the services to be immediately
responsive and accessible to the community.

‘The Barangay Health Workers are an essential component to the nation’s healthcare workforce and
to the Philippine Health Care in the country. Despite the critical role and function of the BHWs as
frontliners in primary health service, they receive meager benefits and incentives. The last major adjustment
to the Barangay Health Worker role was when the Republic Act No. 7883 was enacted, which recognized
the contribution of the BHWs by providing them benefits and incentives, however, after three (3) decades,
this law no longer responds to the needs of our BHWs.

This bill seeks for the Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers, and that they shall be entitled to
incentives and benefits such as hazard allowance, subsistence allowance, transportation, and health
benefits, among others. This measure will not only grant our Barangay Health Workers their due benefits
and recognition, but will hopefully encourage more constituents to serve as BHWs in their localities.

This bill has been filed and had its success in the previous Congresses and it is hoped that in the
20" Congress, it will finally be enacted into law.

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

SS ae

REYNANTE U. ARROGANCIA
3rd District, Quezon Province



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 3933

Introduced by Representative Reynante U. Arrogancia

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title.
Workers Act.”

is act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of Barangay Health

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. I is the declared policy of the State to protect and promote the
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. It is also the policy of
the State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, which shall
‘endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to the communities.

communities, and volunteerism of the population, is an effective strategy towards realizing health
empowerment and delivering effective health care programs and services.

The State values the indispensable role of barangay health workers (BHWs) as the
frontliners in providing primary health care services and, therefore, shall adopt policies that will
harness their potential as partners in national development.

Pursuant thereto, the State shall define their roles and responsibilities, prescribe the
methods for their recruitment and retention, identify programs for capability-building and career
advancement, and provide avenues to ventilate and resolve issues concerning them.

The State shall also, in recognition of the spirit of volunteerism and concern for the
upliftment of the health status of communities, promote the welfare and well-being of volunteer
BHWs and provide them with incentives and benefits through the collaborative efforts of LGUs
and the national government.

SEC. 3. Coverage. This Act shall cover all BHWs, whether as volunteers or employees of
government, and all LGUs and national government agencies that mobilize BHWs to expand the
delivery or primary health care services to communities, families, and individuals.


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CHAPTER IT
THE BARANGAYS HEALTH WORKERS IN
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY

SEC. 4. The Role of BHWs in Providing Primary Health Care. BHWs shall serve as the
frontliners in supporting the delivery of primary heaith care in the community. They shall form
part of the community health teams of the barangay health station, health center, or any other
primary health care facility of the municipal/city health office established to provide primary
health care services to a barangay or a part of it, or a cluster of barangays. For this purpose, BHWs
are hereby declared as members of the cadre of community health care workers.

The head of the barangay health station, health center, or any other primary health care
facility, of the municipaUcity health office, shall exercise day-to-day direct control and supervision
over the BHWs.

The BHW shall perform the following roles:

(a) Asa Primary Health Care Service Provider ~ to assist in the health facilities in providing
primary health care services to the members of the community;

(b) As a Health Educator - to provide knowledge and skills to community members in the
prevention and management of simple illnesses;

(©) As a Community Organizer — to organize and mobilize the community towards self-
reliance; and

(d) Record Keeper — to assist in the development and maintenance of a community health
profile, and collect and collate health data and information of families and individuals in
the community.

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act”, certified BHWs
who have undergone certification process under Section 10 of this Act, shall serve as primary care
workers and shall act as the navigator, initial and continuing point of contact in the health care
delivery system. They shall endorse patients to the next higher level of health care provider within
the health care provider network to which the barangay health station, health center, or any other
primary health care unit, belong: Provided, That except in emergency or serious cases and when
proximity is a concern, access to higher levels of care shall be coordinated by the certified BHWs.

To effectively and efficiently perform these roles and expectations, the BHWs to be
assigned in a barangay should be residents of the community.

‘The Department of Health (DOH) shall promulgate the policies, guidelines, and specific
duties and responsibilities of registered and certified BHWs, for the effective implementation of
this Section.

SEC. 5. Coordination Between the Health Station/Health Center/ Health Care Facility of the
Municipal/City Health Office with the Barangay. - ‘The head of the barangay station, health
center, or any other primary health care facility, of the municipal/city health office shall coordinate
and collaborate with the punong barangay or with several punong barangay in the case of health
center providing services to a cluster of barangays, in the implementation of programs and
ies to address the primary health care needs of the communities.



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Pursuant to Section 17 (b) (ii) of the Local Government Code, the punong barangay shall
support the delivery of health services in the community by ensuring the maintenance of health
station/center, particularly in providing the necessary additional logistical support, supplies and
services needed by BHWS.

SEC. 6. Number of Barangay Health Care Workers. - The determination of the number of
BHWs who can serve a barangay or a cluster thereof shall be guided by and based on, among
others, the catchment population, the community health profile, and the need for different primary
health care services.

The DOH, in consultation with local government units, shall determine the ideal ratio of
BHWs with the required competencies to households and shall issue an updated policy on this
ration every five years.

CHAPTER IIL
REGISTRATION, CAPABILITY-BUILDING AND RETENTION

SEC. 7. Registration. —In order to qualify as a BHW, in addition to qualifications to be set by the
municipal or city health board, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

(a) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the date of the filing of the application for
registration;

(b) Be physically and mentally fit; and

(c) Have completed in the same year of application for registration the basic orientation and
training for BHWs as prescribed by the DOH.

Eligible applicants shall register with the local health board in the municipality or city
where they reside and intend to render service and shall be given appropriate proof of said
registration.

It shall be the duty of the municipal and city health offices, in cooperation with the
provincial health offices and the DOH, to provide interested applicants as BHWs with basic
orientation and training.

SEC. 8. Role of the Municipal and City Local Health Boards. ~ \n addition to their functions
under Section 102, Title V of the Local Government Code, as amended, the municipal and city
health boards shall prescribe the policies and guidelines and be responsible for the recruitment,
selection, registration, certification, retention and removal of, and the resolution of complaints and
grievances involving, BHWs in their jurisdictions.

The decisions of the municipal/ city health board with regard to the revocation or
registration of a BHW or on the resolution of complaints and grievances of and against BHWs
may be appealed to the provincial health board and, thereafter, to the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG).

The DILG, in collaboration
up the grievance and appeal mechanism,

the DOH, shall provide the general guidelines in setting

SEC. 9. National BHW Information System — There shall be established and maintained by the
DOH, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology



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(DICT), a National BHW Information System, to assist the national government and local
government units in formulating and implementing policies and programs for the organization and
development of the cadre of BHWs.

‘The Information System shall be the sole source of real-time data and information on
BHWs nationwide. It shall contain the list of all BHWs at the barangay, municipal, city and
provincial levels, their socio-demographic profiles, qualifications, areas of assignment, and other
information that the DOH may deem necessary.

‘The municipal and city health boards shall be responsible for registering and continuously
updating the records of BHWs in their jurisdictions.

The provincial health boards, with the assistance of the DOH, shall provide training to
municipal and city health boards within the province on the use of the Information System and
ensure that the local health boards regularly submit accurate data and information on their BHWs.

SEC. 10. Certification of BHWs. - To ensure the health and welfare of the community and further
professionalize the cadre of BHWs in rendering primary health care services. a duly registered
BHW shall undergo certification by the municipal/city health board.

‘The DOH, in consultation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Civil Service Commission
(CSC), shall promulgate the policies, standards and guidelines for the certification of competency
of BHWs.

To qualify for certification, a registered BHW must:

(a) Have completed in the locality at least two (2) years of continuous service;

(b) Have completed the training on the roles, duties, and responsibilities as a BHW, as
prescribed by the DOH;

(c) Have completed the courses of the certification component of the Education and Training
Program, provided in Section 11 of this Act.

‘The municipal and city health boards shall act on the application for certification of BHWs
not later than thirty (30) days from the date of application and shall issue the certificate of
competency to qualified BHWs upon inspection, verification, or testing of their conformance to
policies, standards and guidelines issued by the DOH.

It shall be the duty of the municipal and city LGUs, in cooperation with the provincial
government and the DOH, to provide the applicant BHWs the necessary support and opportunities
for certification.

SEC. 11. Education and Training Program for BHWs. - The DOH and the TESDA, in
collaboration with the CSC, the CHED, relevant government agencies, local government units,
education institutions, and stakeholders, shall develop and ‘itutionalize a continuing
‘competency-based education and training curriculum for all BHWs.

The curriculum shall train the BHWs as primary health care service provider, health
educator, community organizer, and record keeper. It shall prescribe the courses for the
certification component and the courses for continuing health education and capacity-building for
all BHWs.


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‘The DOH and TESDA shall complement the competency-based education and training
curriculum by making available web-based and mobile applications for purposes of:

(a) Providing training materials to enhance the knowledge and skills of BHWs;

(b) Offering forums for BHWs to communicate, share experiences and seek advice from peers
and health professionals;

(©) Disseminating new policies, programs and guidelines pertaining to their roles and
responsibilities;

(d) Facilitating reporting and feedback mechanisms to improve service delivery and address
challenges faced in the field; and

(©) Offering resources for personal and professional development, including health and
wellness programs.

SEC. 12. Inclusion of the BHW Positions in the Government Plantilla. — The Department of
Budget and Management (DBM), in consultation with the CSC, the DOH and LGUs, shall
establish the position classification and the corresponding salary grades for BHWs in the Index of
Occupational Standards. Municipalities and cities may employ BHWs in their respective LGUs.

SEC. 13. Retention and Continuous Service of BHWs. — Registered and certified BHW shall
continue to perform their roles, duties, and responsibilities except due to the withdrawal of an
individual as a BHW or removal for cause by the municipal or city health board after due process.
The continuity of services of BHWs, including issues on the revocation of the registration of a
BHW, or the removal of a BHW from the cadre of BHWs, shall follow the policies and guidelines
promulgated by the DILG and the DOH.

CHAPTER IV
INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF BHWs

SEC. 14. Incentives and Benefits of BHWs. — (a) In recognition of the time, services and
resources they contribute, volunteer registered and certified BH Ws shall receive, or be provided
with the following:

i. Monthly Honoraria— A monthly honorarium of not less than Three thousand pesos (P3.000.00)
for registered BHWs and not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) for certified BHWs:
Provided, That not diminution of monthly honoraria can be made on BHWs already receiving
more than the herein prescribed minimum amounts: Provided, further, That the DOH, in
coordination with the DILG and the DBM, shall review and adjust the minimum honoraria
every three years;

ii, Transportation Allowance/ Expense Reimbursements. — Registered and certified BHWs shall
be provided by the barangay with transportation allowance or entitlement to reimbursement of
actual transportation expense for the performance of their functions, as may be authorized by
law or regulation: Provided, That the barangay may, instead, provide applicable forms of
transportation to enable the BHWs provide the needed primary health care service: Provided,
farther, That the municipality of city, through their health offices, may shoulder such allowance
or expense: Provided, finally, That official travels, such as seminars, conferences and transport
of patients outside of the barangay or locality, shall be shouldered by the barangay,
municipality, city or province that authorized such official travel and shall not be deducted from
the honoraria of the BHWs;



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iii.

iv.

vi.

|. Subsistence Allowance. ~ The concerned municipality or city shall provi.

BHWs
who render service in other barangays where they are not residents and considered
as unserved or underserved areas, to make their services available at any and all
times, with subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals they take during their
duty, which shall be computed following prevailing circumstances. In no case such
subsistence allowance be less than One hundred pesos (P100.00) per day:

ii. Hazard Allowance. - BHWs who are exposed to situations, conditions, or factors

in the work environment or place where foreseeable but unavoidable danger or risks
exist which adversely endanger their health or life and/or increase the risk of
producing adverse effects in their person in the exercise of their duties, including
assignment to communities in or recovering from situation of armed conflict, to be
validated by the proper authorities, shall be paid a hazard allowance by the
municipality or city concerned in an amount to be determined by its local health
board and the local peace and order council unit concerned, which in no case shall
be less than One thousand pesos per month, subject to existing laws, rules and
regulations;

Insurance Coverage. — Insurance coverage and benefit packages from the
Government Service Insurance System, suited to their needs and unique
circumstances, which shall be borne by the municipality or city concerned. For this
purpose, the GSIS shall design such appropriate insurance packages;

Health Emergency Allowance During Public Health Emergency. ~ The Health
Emergency Allowance and other benefits prescribed in Republic Act No. 11712,
on the conditions that the volunteer BHWs are part of the National BHW
Information System and are assigned in health facilities and barangay health
emergency response teams during public health emergencies. The national
government shall provide funds for the payment of the HEA and other benefits
mandated under R.A. No. 11712;

Cash Gift. - A Cash Gift not less than the minimum monthly honoraria to be given
every December;

One-time Dedicated Service Recognition Incentive. — A BHW who withdraws as a
registered or certified BHW, but had continuously and satisfactorily served for at
least fifteen (15) years, shall be entitled to a one-time incentive of not less than Ten
Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00), in recos ion of their loyalty, dedication and
service, which shall be borne by the municipality or city concemed. The national
and provincial government shall assist in case of non-availability of funds from the
municipality or component city concerned;

Education and Career Advancement. The DOH, in coordination with the
Department of Education, CHED, TESDA, CSC, other concerned national
government agencies, non-government organizations, and LGUs, shall provide
information on, and opportunities for, education and career advancement for
BHWs, such as:


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1. Educational programs that credit the years of primary health care
service of the BHW and the number of training hours gained during
attendance to courses covered by the Education and Training Program
under Section 11 of this Act towards higher education completion in
institutions with step-ladder curricula, as provided under Republic Act
No. 10968, otherwise known as the “PQF Act,” and Republic Act No.
10647, otherwise known as the
“Ladderized Education Act of 2014,” thus allowing them to upgrade
their skills and knowledge for community work or to pursue further
training as health care professionals;

2. Continuing education, study and exposure tours, field immersion, and
scholarship and financial grants, among others

3. Scholarship grant or financial assistance to be granted to one (1) child
of a BHW who will not be able to take advantage of the programs
described in paragraphs (1) and (2) hereof; and

4. Special training programs, such as traditional medicine, disaster
preparedness and other programs that address emergent community
health problems and issues;

viii. Free Legal Services — Legal representation and consultation services shall be
immediately provided by the Public Attorney’s Office to a BHW in cases of
coercion, interference, and in other civil and criminal cases filed by or against
the BHW arising out of or in connection with the performance of their duties
as such; and

ix. Preferential Access to Government Livelihood Programs, ~ Government
agencies providing livelihood programs shall provide organized BHWs
preferential access to loan services.

Provided, That in the provision of the Monthly Honoraria and the Cash Gift, and
in consideration of the financial assistance of the national government to third, fourth and
fifth class municipalities, provided under Section 15 of this Act, the provinces, in
consultation with component cities, municipalities and barangays within their jurisdiction,
shall determine the actual amount or percentage share of the amount that each and every
LGU will give to BHWs: Provided, further, That nothing herein limits the barangays, or
the municipality, or the city, or the province, from fully shouldering the provision of the
Monthly Honoraria and the Cash Gift: Provided, furthermore, That nothing herein
prevents the barangay, municipality, or the city, or the province, from fully shouldering
the provision of the Monthly Honoraria and the Cash rrovided, furthermore, That
nothing herein prevents the barangay, municipality, city and province from providing
additional monetary and non-monetary benefits to BHWs to supplement those given by
another concerned LGU within the province: Provided, finally, That these honoraria shall
be given starting January of the ensuing fiscal year unless the local government unit/s,
singly or collectively, immediately provide the needed funding.

Certified BHWs shall be granted sub-professional eligibility if they have rendered
at least five (5) years of continuous service as such: Provided, That should a BHW become
a regular employee of the government, the total numbers of years served as such shall be
credited to the BHW’s service in the computation of retirement benefits.



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The emoluments, incentives, benefits, honoraria, allowances and reimbursements
of BHWs employed by the municipality, city, province, or national government agencies
on a regular, contractual, casual or job order basis shall be governed by laws applicable to
the civil service and the policies issued by the Civil Service Commission, the Office of the
President, the Department of Budget and Management, and the LGU under which they are
employed.

SEC. 15. BHW Deployment Subsidy to Low-Income Municipalities. ~ There is hereby mandated
a BHW Deployment Subsidy to Low-Income Municipalities in order to provide financial
assistance to third, fourth, and fifth class municipalities and enable them to deploy a sufficient
number of volunteer BHWs in their communities, particularly to unserved or underserved areas in
their jurisdictions, and in providing incentives to dedicated volunteer BHWs. Priority shall be
given to municipalities with no or less capacity to give regular and adequate monthly honoraria
and other incentives to its BHWs, as determined by the DOH and the DILG.

SEC. 16. Discrimination Prohibited. — Discrimination against any BHW by reason of gender,
civil status, creed, religious or political beliefs and ethnic groupings in the exercise of their
functions and responsibilities is hereby prohibited.

SEC. 17. Prohibition on Participation in Political Activities. — To maintain their integrity and
impartiality, and eliminate the possibility of conflicts with their catchment households, BHWs are
prohibited from participating in partisan political activities. Any BHW who files an application as
a candidate in any political position is hereby deemed removed from the list of registered BHWs
or resign from government service, as the case may be. Participation in political activities shall
serve as basis of the local health board to remove BHWs in the list of registered BHWs.

CHAPTER V
ASSOCIATONS AND FEDERATIONS OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS

SEC. 18. Associations and Federations of BHWs. — There shall be organized associations of
BHWs at the municipal and city levels and federations at the provincial, regional, sub-national
and national levels. BHW associations of highly urbanized cities that are independent from
provinces where they are located, and LGUs in the National Capital Region, shall directly become
members of regional and sub-national federations and the national federation.

These associations and federations shall serve as the venues in order to ventilate issues and
formulate and communicate policy proposals concerning BHWs, particularly on their roles and
duties as the frontliners, as well as their welfare and well-being, in supporting the delivery of
primary health care services in the community.

The municipal and city associations and the provincial, regional, and sub-national
federations shall elect their respective president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and other
officers as they may deem necessary.

The national federation shall elect a board of directors headed by a Chairperson and a set
of national officers headed by a national president, as prescribed in their constitution and by-laws.
A secretary-general shall be chosen from among the national federation members to manage the


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day-to-day operations and activities of the federation. The Board of Directors may create such
other positions as may be necessary for the management of the affairs of the national federation.

SEC. 19. Consultation with Local Health Board. — The different local health boards shal! consult
the associations and federations under their jurisdictions on, among others, the roles and
responsibilities of BHWs for the effective delivery of primary health care servic

CHAPTER VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 20. Observance of BHW Day. - Every barangay shall commemorate BHW Day during
April 7 of every year in recognition of the service of BHWs, their heroic services in times of crisis,
and their indispensable role in promoting health and wellness among the citizenry.

The DOH, in cooperation with the DILG and all LGUs, shall hold simple ceremonies or
activities to highlight the indispensable role of BHWS in nation-building.

SEC. 21. Penalty Clause. — Any local government official who violates any provision of this Act
shall be administratively and criminally charged in accordance with law.

SEC. 22. Annual Accomplishment Reports. ~The DOH and the DILG shall submit to the Office
of the President, the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives an annual report
on the accomplishments and challenges with regards the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 23. Appropriations. — The amounts necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
charged against the funds of LGUs and the appropriations of the DOH.

‘The amount necessary for the initial implementation of the BHW Deployment Subsidy to
Low-Income Municipalities shall be charged against the current appropriations of the DOH and,
thereafter, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DOH and the DILG shall, in consultation
with local government units, the national federation of BHWs, the CSC, the DBM, the TESDA,
the CHED, the GSIS, other concerned government agencies, non-government organizations, and
academic and training institutions, promulgate the rules and regulations to implement this Act not
later then one hundred eighty (180) days from the start of the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 25. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known as the “Barangay Health
Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995” is hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees,
‘executive orders, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 27. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation

Approved,