SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 3 5 9 
) 
) 
) 
Senat!> 
j 
{!9;f\t:e ~\f HpJ. i~Vli'1'M'r:g 
"13 
JilL ~3 P12:56 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The national health policy of our country is clearly articulated in Article XIII, 
Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution in this wise: "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 froht-liners 
in providing health care services to the community, there is no lexisting 
mechanism to secure that all barangays are equipped with the services of their 
own barangay tlt;laJttl workt;lf, Ttli!> bill !>t;lt;lK!> to ft;lmt;lgy ttli!> !>it~ation, 
This proposed measure mandates the appointment of at least 1 barangay 
health worker in each and every barangay. The barangay health worker 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, security of tenure of barangay health workers is expressly provided 
and recognized by the proposed measure. The passage of this proposed 
measure will strengthen the capacity of barangays to deliver basic health 
services to the community at the same time affording the barangay health 
workers their well-deserved entitlements and benefits. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
GOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
JUL -3 Pl2:56 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No, 359 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN 
EVERY BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 7160 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, FURTHER 
EXPANDING THE BENEFITS OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Shott Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay 
Health Workers Act of 2013" . 
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 soeial 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 baran9ay health needs, the State shall 9uarantee the appOintment of 
a health worker in every barangay as frontline health workers. 
SEC. 3. Coverage. -The proVisions of this Act shall be applicable to all 
barangay health workers accredited to act as such by the local health board in 
accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Health (DPH). For 
the purposes of this Act, the term barangay health worker shall refer to a person 
who has undergone training program under any accredited governmenti or non-
government organization primarily to render health care services. 
SEC. 4. 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 
1 


FIVE (5) BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS PROVIDED THAT THE 
TOTAL NUMBER OF BARAN GAY HEALTH WORKERS PER 
BARANGA Y SHALL IN NO CASE BE MORE THAN 1 % OF THE 
BARAN GAY'S TOTAL POPULATION." 
SEC. 5. A new provision shall be inserted between Sections 395 and 396 
of the same Act to be denominated as Section 395-A which shall read as follows: 
"SECTION 395.))" APPOINTMENT AND QUAL/FICA TlONS OF 
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS. - THE BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKER AS ACCREDITED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE 
MUNICIPAL OR CITY HEALTH BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.7883, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE BARANGA Y HEALTH WORKERS AND 
BENEFITS ACT OF 1995, SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE 
MUNICIPAL OR CITY MAYOR OF THE AREA WHERE SUCH 
BARANGA Y HEALTH WORKER WILL BE APPOINTED IS 
LOCATED. A BARAN GAY HEALTH WORKER SHALL BE 
ENTITLED TO ALLOWANCES AND SUCH OTHER BENEFITS TO 
WHICH OTHER APPOINTED BARAN GAY OFFICIALS MAY BE 
ENTITLED TO. 
NO PERSON 
DULY APPOINTED AS 
A 
BARANGA Y HEALTH WORKER SHALL BE REMOVED EXCEPT 
FOR VAll£:) CAUSE AS PROVIDED UNDER EXISTING CIVIL 
SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ONLY AFTER DUE 
NOTICE AND HEARING." 
SEC. 6 . 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, munioipal, 
or city ordinance in accordance with the provisions of this code, but 
in no case shall it be less 
than One Thousand Pesos (Pi ,000.00) per month for the punong 
barangay and Six Hundred Pesos (P600.DO) per month for the 
sangguniang barangay members, barangay treasurer, 
[and] 
barangay secretary AND BARAN GAY HEALTH WORKERS: 
Provided, howeve4 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 
BARAN GAY OFFICIALS AS MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW SUCH 
AS REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6942 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BARAN GAY HEALTH WORKERS 
BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT. 
"(b) The punong barangay, the sangguniang barangay members, 
the barangay treasurer, [and] the barangay secretary AND THE 
BARAN GAY HEALTH WORKER shall also: 
2 


SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department Qf 
Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the and the Civil Service 
Commission, shall within ninety (90) days from the enactment of this Act, 
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this 
Act. 
SEC. 8. 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. 9 . Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations and administrative regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent 
herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately after 
its publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3