Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18" Congress
First Regular Session

1905

House Bill

Introduced By: HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill endeavors to strengthen barangay governance by providing barangay
health workers (BHW) and barangay tanods transformative capacity building and
sufficient financial empowerment.

The Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the barangay is basic
political unit and the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies,
programs and activities in the community. It is the forum for collective views of the
people and where disputes may be amicably settled.

Furthermore, the barangay attends to the basic needs of the community and
delivers various government services, including that of health and peace and order. At
present, the BHW and the members of the barangay peace-keeping unit called the
barangay tanods provide services on volunteer basis without any remuneration. They
are working so hard under difficult situations and maintain a safe and secure
environment against criminality in the streets are unrewarded.

The proposed reform under this bill provides financial and capacity building
measures to BHW and the barangay tanods. Its noble intention is to empower our
barangay volunteer workers and recognize, however minimal, their enthusiasm and
dependability. It is imperative that we strengthen barangay governance in our 42,036
barangays in the country if only to provide every citizen and every family a chance to
rise against poverty and allow them to experience that change has come indeed.

Thus, the approval of this bill earnestly sought.

7 fs Lorna‘C. Silverio


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Quezon City

18" Congress
First Regular Session
1905

House Bill

Introduced By: HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY UNIT THROUGH SUPPORT FOR THE
BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND BARANGAY VOLUNTEER WORKERS, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, PROVDING FUNDS THEREFOR, 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 Reform Act.’

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy — it is hereby declared the policy of the State to strengthen to
the barangay as the smallest government unit of society, in order to provide sufficient
services to the people, the State recognizes the need to empower the barangay officials and
the barangay health workers through proper compensation and capacity building measures.
Furthermore, the State acknowledges the need to ensure continuity of programs, projects and
services of every barangay to effectively benefits the Filipino people.

‘Sec.3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following shall mean:

a) Barangay Health Worker(BHW) shall refer to a person who has undergone
training programs under any accredited government or non-government
organization and who has voluntarily render 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
(DOH): and

b) Barangay Tanod shall refer to all duty appointed members of the barangay tanod
brigades, which shall not be more than twenty (20) in each barangay as prescribed
by Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of
1991.

‘Sec. 4. Honorarium of BHW and Barangay Tanods. — In order to provide barangay support
to our barangay officials and volunteers, the following benefits shall be given by prescribed
by the national government agencies for services rendered by the following barangay
volunteer workers.

a) Two (2) BHW in each barangay shall receive a monthly honorarium of not less
than Five Hundred (P500) pesos from the DOH.


b) At least twenty (20) Tanods, in each barangay, shall receive a monthly
honorarium of not less than Five Hundred (P500) pesos from the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The barangays may choose to give additional honorarium to the aforementioned workers and
volunteers, provided, that such additional honorarium shall be charged against the local
budgets of each barangay, Provided further, that the barangays shall ensure that all BHW’s
receive the same honorarium.

Sec. 5. Capacity Building Measures for BHWs and Barangay Tanods. ~ In Addition to the
financial benefits, the aforementioned national government agencies shall provide the
following capacity building measures to BHWs and Barangay Tanods:

a) Training and workshops on how to effectively exercise their duties and
responsibilities, and any other such training fit for BHW and Barangay Tanods.

b)

PhilHealth coverage for BHWs, which shall include medical and dental
examination and treatment in government hospitals, fully subsidized by the DOH,
provided, that indigent barangay volunteer workers, including barangay tanods,
shall be covered through the full national government subsidy scheme.

©) Free legal services from government lawyers or the Public Attomey’s Office
(PAO) for cases arising from acts committed in the performance of duty.
Provided, that such legal services shall continue, even after the expiration of the
term of barangay volunteer worker, until its final disposition.

Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DILG, in consultation with the National
Liga ng mga Barangay and DOH, shall issue the rules and regulations to implement this at
Act within ninety (90) days after its approval.

‘Sec. 7. Separability Clause. — It any provision of this Act is declared ‘unconstitutional, the
same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provision hereof.

Sec. 8 Repealing Clause. — All Laws, decrees, orders and issuances ot portion thereof, as
well as rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or any two (20 newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

Hume h. Pbmoi=