Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNO.    982C
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Introduced by BIIW PARTYLIST REP. ANGELICA NATASIIA A. CO
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With the enactment into law of the Republic Act No.11223, otherwise known as the
"Universal  Health  Care  Act"  (UHC  Act)  in February  2019,  primary  health  care takes  the
forefront in ensuring the  Filipino people's right to  health in keeping  with the  Philippines
commitment  to  the  International  Alma-Ata  Declaration  and  the  Sustainable  Development
Goals.
Primary  Health  Care  (PHC)  refers  to  essential  health  care  based  on  practical,
scientifically  sound,  and  socially  acceptable  methods  and  technology  made  universally
accessible to individuals and families in the corrmunity through their full participation and at
a  cost  that  the  community  and  country  can  afford  to  maintain  at  every  stage  of their
development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination (Alma-Ata Declaration VI -
D).
Primary   Care   (PC)   is   first-contact,   accessible,   continued,   comprehensive,   and
coordinated care. First-contact care is accessible at the time of need; ongoing care focuses on
the long-term health of a person rather than the short duration of the disease; comprehensive
care is a range of services appropriate to the common problems in the respective population
and coordination is the role by which primary care acts to coordinate with other specialists that
the patient may need. PC is a subset of PHC (WHO, n.d.).
To fully realize primary health care, however, critical policy reforms must be undertaken
to enable the local government units to fully implement it by strengthening the necessary health
governance mechanisms. Financing primary health care should also be addressed by lifting the
limitation on personnel services provided in the R.A No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code, and by boosting local financing with clear local sources of funds in addition
to the support they receive from the national government as stipulated in the UHC Act.
This  bill  mandates  municipalities  and  cities  to  establish  a  comprehensive  primary
health care plan - -  focusing on preventive and promotive care in their respective jurisdictions,
with technical assistance from the DOH. It shall include the strengthening of human resources
for health, including the Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars.


The  municipal  and  city  primary  healthcare  plans  shall  form  part  of  developing
province-wide  and  city-wide  health  systems  and  comprehensive  health  investment  plans
pursuant to the UHC Act.
Moreover, this bill seeks to encourage the establishment of local health enterprises and
cooperatives by providing financial and technical support from local and national sources.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RTPAvthAIAISRA„o
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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNo.       9826
Introduced by BHW PARTYLIST REP. ANGELICA NATASHA A. CO
AN ACT STRENGTHENING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN SUPPORT 0F THE
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Represehiatives Of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Primary Health Care
Enhancement "
SEC. 2. Statement of policy. -  The State shall protect and promote the right to health of
the people and provide conditions for health empowement, where each individual has access
to information and services that will bring about health and well-being. The Primary Health
Care Approach is recognized as the maj or strategy towards health empowerment, emphasizing
the need to provide accessible and acceptable health services through participatory strategies
such as health education, training of barangay health workers (BHW) and barangay nutrition
scholars (BNS), community building and organizing.
To this end, this Act shall strengthen and institutionalize primary healthcare programs
at the barangay level by providing and upgrading vital and essential health facilities, human
resource development, and fiscal support.
SEC. 3. Definition. -  As used in this Act:
(a)  Prz.mczr)/ Heo/ffe  Cczre  ¢HC)  refers  to  essential  health  care  based  on practical,
scientifically  sound,  and  socially  acceptable  methods  and  technology  made  universally
accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at
a  cost  that  the  community  and  country  can  afford  to  maintain  at  every  stage  of their
development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination (Alma-Ata Declaration VI -
D).
(b) Prj.mczry Cc7re  /PCJ refers to first-contact, accessible, continued, comprehensive,
and coordinated care. First-contact care is accessible at the time of need; ongoing care focuses
on the long-term health of a person rather than the short duration of the disease; comprehensive
care is a range of services appropriate to the common problems in the respective population
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SEC. 4. City, Municipal, and Province-Wide Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Plan.
-  Every city, municipality, and province shall develop a Comprehensive Primary Healthcare
Plan  focusing  on  preventive  and  promotive  primary  healthcare,  in  accordance  with  the
Universal Healthcare Act.
The plan shall include and ensure the availability of essential inputs and investments to
realize   the   primary   health   care  programs,   plans,   and   activities.   It   shall   ensure   that
comprehensive nutrition and oral health programs for pregnant women, mothers, and children
as a priority, as well as comprehensive oral health.  It shall likewise ensure that all RHUs are
included in networks of primary care providers.
The Department of Health (DOH) shall fomulate the necessary guidelines and provide
technical assistance to the concerned LGUS.
SEC. 5. Representation in the Local Health Board and Health Care Provider Network. -
The president of the municipal or city association of BHWs and BNS shall be a member of the
municipal or city local health board. The Presidents of each component city and municipality
of a province shall elect among themselves the BHW and BNS representatives to the provincial
health board.
The BHWs and BNSs shall also form part of the Health Care Provider Network in the
implementation of primary health care programs and services.
SEC. 6. Local Health Plan. - Local government units are hereby mandated to formulate
their respective local health plans in harmony with the national health plan formulated by the
DOH.  The  BHWs  and  BNS  shall  actively  take  part  in  the  formulation,  implementation,
monitoring,  and  evaluation  of the  health  plans  insofar  as  primary  health  care  programs,
projects, and activities are concerned.
SEC. 7. Barangay Health Center. -There shall be at least one (1 ) barangay health center
which shall have basic and essential facilities and provisions as prescribed by the DOH to
effectively cany out primary health care programs and services in the barangay. The barangay
health centers shall assist in disaster risk reduction and mitigation and nutrition programs and
activities.
SEC.   8.   Botika  sa  Barangay.   -  The  DOH   shall  provide  the   guidelines  for  the
establishment and Management of "Botika sa Barangay" progralns and services. The DOH
and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shall give appropriate training to BHWs, in
consultation with relevant professional organizations and associations.
The  BHWs  shall  assist  in the  Botika sa Barangay  programs  and  services  under the
supervision of the city/municipal health officer.
SEC. 9. Education and Information Campaign -The DOH shall conduct an education
and information campaign that would enhance the knowledge and skills of BHWs and BNSs
on primary health care through various forms in major Philippine dialects including, but not
limited to, online E-Leaming and multimedia.
The DOH, in coordination with TESDA and other concerned agencies, shall also assist
the LGUs in the development of education modules or materials to promote the collective
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experiences and leamings of BHWs and BNSs on primary health care, as well as to promote
traditional and complementary medicine.
The DOH shall also maintain an updated roster of registered and accredited BHWs and
BNSs that is accessible to the general public.
SEC.  10. Funding.  -Funds for the benefits and incentives of BHWs and BNSs and the
implementation of local health programs, projects, and activities, shall be allocated from the
following, on top of existing fund sources:
1)   Ten percent (10%) of the national tax allocations of the LGUs;
2)   Ten percent ( 10%) of the tobacco excise tax proceeds of tobacco-producing LGUs;
and
3)   At least ten percent (10%) of the LGUs'  incomes derived from local economic
enterprises;
Provided, that the LGUs concerned shall flrst fulfill the benefits and incentives due for
BHWs and BNSs in accordance with this Act. Provided further, that any expenditure by the
LGUs for the benefits and incentives of BHWs and BNSs shall be exempt from the forty-five
percent (45%) limit on allocation for personal services of LGUs in the case of first to third
class LGUs, and fifty-five percent (55%) in the case of fourth class or lower class LGUs.
SEC.11.  Penalty Clause -Any local government official concerned who violates any
provision of this Act may be administratively charged in accordance with law.
SEC.   12.  Rules  and  Regulation.  -  The  DOH  shall,  in  consultation  with  concerned
government agencies and non-governmental organizations, fomulate the rules and regulations
necessary for proper implementation of this Act not later than one hundred eighty days ( 1 80)
from its effectivity.
SEC.  13.  Separability  Clause.  -If any  provision  of this  Act  is  declared  invalid,  the
remainder of any provision hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.
SEC.  14.  Repealing  Clause.  -  Republic  Act No.  7883  is  hereby  repealed.  All  laws,
decrees, executive orders, and other presidential issuances which are inconsistent with this Act
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC.  15. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its publication in
the Official Gazette or at least in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
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