REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3547

Introduced by the Honorable Representative Ronald M. Cosalan

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 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. This bill seeks to remedy this situation.

‘This proposed measure mandates the appointment of at least one (1) barangay
health worker in 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, but 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.

uateel Les. a

NALD M. COSALAI


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 3547

Introduced by: HON. RONALD M. COSALAN

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, PROVIDING BENEFITS FOR BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS AS BARANGAY OFFICIALS, 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 of 2010.”

SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987
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 a health worker in every barangay as frontline health workers.


SECTION 3. Coverage. - The provision 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 (DOH). For the purposes of this Act,
the term “barangay health worker” shall refer to a person who had undergone training
program under any accredited government or non-governmental organization
primarily to render health care services.

SECTION 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 FIVE (5) BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS, PROVIDED THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS PER BARANGAY SHALL IN NO
CASE BE MORE THAN 1% OF THE BARANGAY'S TOTAL
POPULATION.”

SECTION 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-A. APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS OF
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS. - THE BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS 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 BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND BENEFITS ACT OF 1995,
SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY MAYOR OF
THE AREA WHERE SUCH BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER WILL BE
APPOINTED IS LOCATED. A BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER SHALL
BE ENTITLED TO ALLOWANCES AND SUCH OTHER BENEFITS TO
WHICH OTHER APPOINTED BARANGAY OFFICIALS MAY _BE
ENTITLED. NO PERSON SHALL BE REMOVED EXCEPT FOR VALID
CAUSE AS PROVIDED UNDER EXISTING CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND.
REGULATIONS, AND ONLY AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING.”

SECTION 6. Section 393, paragraphs (a) and (b) of the Local Government Code of 1991,
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 Iupong 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 bayan 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 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 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS’ BENEFITS AND

INCENTIVES ACT.
(b) The punong barangay, the sangguniang barangay members, the
barangay treasurer, [and] the barangay secretary, AND THE BARANGAY

HEALTH WORKERS shall also:
Xxx

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and Local
Government, in coordination with 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and
administrative regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its

publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,