Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.B.No,_ 490

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

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 (PHILHEALTH) and the Govemment
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 PHILHEALTH and GSIS
compulsory thereby expanding and increasing the benefits they are currently receiving,

Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

JUAN EDG: “SONNY” M. ANGARA

Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

H. B. No. 4

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
GRANTING COMPULSORY COVERAGE TO ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM, 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:

SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known as the “Barangay
Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995", is hereby amended by adding a
new subsection which shall read as follows:

“SEC. 6. Incentives and Benefits. - x x x

"“(G) PHILHEALTH COMPULSORY COVERAGE. - ALL BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS 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.

“THE NEEDED PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS AND, THEREAFTER, THE
STANDARD MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS, SHALL BE BORNE BY THE LGU
CONCERNED; SUCH THAT, UPON THE PASSAGE OF THIS ACT, THE BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY
ENTITLED TO THE FULL ENJOYMENT AND AVAILMENT OF ESSENTIAL HEALTH
SERVICES AS CONTAINED IN REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7875 OR THE NATIONAL
HEALTH INSURANCE ACT: PROVIDED, THAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
SHALL PROVIDE SUBSIDY FOR THE PROGRAM TO FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH
CLASS MUNICIPALITIES: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT'S SUBSIDY TO QUALIFIED LGU SHALL NOT EXCEED FIFTY
PERCENT (50%) OF THE NEEDED PREMIUM COST.


“THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY
MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS AND ALL OTHER FEES OR CHARGES FOR THEM TO
BE ENTITLED TO THE PROGRAM'S BENEFITS.”

SEC. 2. Oversight Provision. — Congress shall conduct a regular review of this
program which shall primarily evaluate its implementation with regard to its impact and
accomplishments. Such review shall be jointly undertaken by the committees in the
Senate and the House of Representatives which have legislative jurisdiction over this
program.

SEC. 3. Government Guarantee. — The government of the Republic of the Philippines
guarantees the financial viability of this program.

SEC. 4. Rules and Regulations. — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, in
consultation and coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government
and the leagues of govemors, vice governors and mayors of the Philippines, shall
formulate within one hundred (100) days the rules and regulations necessary to
implement this Act.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — {f any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the
remainder or any of the provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and
effect.

SEC. 6. 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. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,