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Republic of the Philippines ‘> RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES { c JUL @
Quezon City {
e BY:
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS ¥
First Regular Session \
HOUSE BILL NO. 1494

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF AT LEAST ONE (1) BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER IN
EVERY BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OR THE
“LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides 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."

By virtue of Section 17 of Title I of the 1991 Local Government Code, the delivery of basic
services and facilities 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.

Hence, this bill mandates the appointment of barangay health workers in every barangay
throughout the country. The barangay health workers 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, this measure seeks to provide barangay health workers security of tenure in
order to strengthen the capacity of barangays to deliver basic health services to the community and
afford the barangay health workers their well-deserved entitlements and benefits.

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

mM
ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BrtL No. 1494

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF AT LEAST ONE (1) BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER IN
EVERY BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OR THE
“LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

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

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 barangay health workers in every barangay as frontline health workers.

SEC. 3. 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 ONE (1) BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKER.”

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SEC. 4. A new provision shall be inserted between Sections 395 and 396 of Republic Act No.
7160 to be denominated as Section 395-A which shall read as follows:

“SECTION 395-A. APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATIONS AND BENEFITS OF BARANGAY HEALTH
‘WORKERS. - ANY PROVISIONS OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY NOTWITHSTANDING, NO PERSON SHALL
BE APPOINTED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY MAYOR AS BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER PURSUANT TO.
THIS ACT UNLESS HE OR SHE HAS COMPLETED AT LEAST SECONDARY EDUCATION. SUCH
REQUIREMENTS SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO THE QUALIFICATIONS PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 3 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883 OR THE “BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS’ BENEFIT AND INCENTIVES ACT OF
1995”. PROVIDED, THAT THOSE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS WHO HAVE RENDERED MORE THAN
TEN (10) YEARS OF SERVICE AND EXHIBITED EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE AS DETERMINED BY THE
LOCAL HEALTH BOARD, SHALL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE MINIMUM
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT.

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. 5. 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, however 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 OR “AN ACT
INCREASING THE INSURANCE BENEFITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND PROVIDING
FUNDS THEREFOR” AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883 OR THE "BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS’ BENEFITS
AND INCENTIVES ACT OF 1995."

(b) The punong barangay, the sangguniang barangay members, the barangay treasurer, [and]
the barangay secretary AND THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER shall also:

(1) Be entitled to Christmas bonus of at least One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) each, the funds
for which shall be taken from the general fund of the barangay or from such other funds appropriated
by the National Government for the purpose;

(2) Be entitled, during their incumbency, to insurance coverage which shall include, but shall
not be limited to temporary and permanent disability, double indemnity, accident insurance, death and
burial benefits, in accordance with Republic Act Numbered Sixty-nine hundred forty-two (R.A. No.
6942), entitled “An Act Increasing the Insurance Benefits of Local Government Officials and Providing
Funds Therefor”;

(3) Be entitled to free medical care including subsistence, medicines, and medical attendance in
any government hospital or institution: Provided, That such hospital care shall include surgery or
surgical expenses, medicines, X-rays, laboratory fees, and other hospital expenses;

OK

‘SEC. 6. Health Education and Training Program for Appointive Barangay Health Workers. — The
Department of Health shall develop a competency-based training program for all appointive barangay
health workers. They shall undergo intensive training s healthcare provider, community organizer,
health service manager, trainer and educator, and researcher. The program shall include basic
orientation and training on health programs and institutionalized health service delivery system,
primary healthcare, basic community organizing, local health research, social health insurance
navigation, basic local resource generation and mobilization, training needs analysis, basic report
writing and communication skills and program planning and development. Courses on basic dental
care, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus
infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) prevention, nutrition, physical therapy,
traditional and herbal medicine and reflexology shall also be offered.

SEC. 7. Mandatory Continuing Community-Based Health Education. - The Department of
Health, in consultation with appropriate agencies, shall formulate a module for Mandatory Continuing
Community-Based Health Education (MCCHE). Appointive barangay health workers shall be required to
undergo an MCCHE at least every three (3) years of active service or as may be required by the DOH.

‘SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The funds needed to implement the provisions of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9, Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and Local
Government, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission and other concerned agencies, shall
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this


Act within ninety (90) days after the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 10. 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. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and
administrative regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,