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Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.3912

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY UNIT THROUGH SUPPORT FOR
BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND BARANGAY VOLUNTEER WORKERS,
AMENDING REPUBLIC AT NO. 7160 PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Barangay, as defined by RA No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991, is the basic political unit which serves as the primary
planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects and
activities in the community. The said law considers the barangay as a forum wherein
the collective views of people may be expressed, crystallized and considered, and
where disputes may be amicably settled.

In view of the mandate of the barangay government, this measure aims to ease
the financial burden of the barangay units by nationalizing the honorarium of the
Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Tanods in each of the barangays in the
country. This bill also seeks to build the capacities of the barangay officials and
volunteers, thus, enduring the proper and continuous implementation of the social

programs and projects in the barangays.

It is the intention of this bill to give the appropriate compensation due to our

barangay volunteers as a way of our appreciation for their dedication to our barangays.


In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

= Lonewiecanoa


Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3912

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY UNIT THROUGH SUPPORT FOR
BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND BARANGAY VOLUNTEER WORKERS,
AMENDING REPUBLIC AT NO. 7160 PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

Congress assembled:
1 SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “The Barangay Reform
2 Act.”
3 SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Itis hereby declared policy of the State to
4 empower and strengthen our Barangay Officials and Barangay Volunteer
5 Workers in order to sufficiently provide front line government services to the
6 Filipino people in the barangay level. The State acknowledges the need to
7 provide for the financial burden of rendering service and the need to properly
8 compensate and capacitate Barangay Officials and Volunteers. Furthermore,
9 the State recognizes the need to ensure continuity of programs, projects and
10 services of each barangay in order to effectively benefit our people.
1 SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following

2 ‘shall mean:


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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 voluntarily renders 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 duly 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.

SECTION 4. Honorarium of BHWs and Barangay Tanods. — In order to ease
the financial burden on our barangay officials and volunteers, the following
benefits shall be given by the National Government for services rendered by
the following Barangay Workers:

a. One (1) BHW in each Barangay shall receive a monthly honorarium
of not less than Five Hundred Pesos (Php 500.00) from the DOH;
and

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

The Barangay may choose to give additional honorarium to the aforementioned
volunteers. Provided, that such additional honorarium shall be charges against
the local budget of each barangay. Provided further, that Barangays shall

ensure that all BHWs receive the same honorarium.


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SECTION 5. Capacity Building for barangay Officials and Volunteer Worker. —
In addition to financial benefits, the National Government shall provide the
following to Barangay Officials and Volunteer Workers:

a. Training and workshops on how to effectively exercise their duty
provided by the DILG for Tanods and DOH for BHWs, and any other
training fit for Barangay officials and Volunteer Workers.

b. Phillhealth coverage for BHWs, which shall include medical
examination and treatment in government hospitals, and fully
subsidized by the National Government through the DOH. Provided,
that indigent barangay volunteers shall be covered through the full
national government subsidy scheme; and

c. Free legal services from government lawyers or the Public Attorney's
Office 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 the Barangay volunteer, until its final
disposition.

SECTION 6. Continuity of Barangay Services. — \n order to ensure the
continuity of Barangay Services, the term of office of all elected barangay
officials after the effectivity of this Act shall be five (5) years.

No Barangay elective official shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms
in the same position.

The power of the DILG regarding suspension, removal, recall, and other
disciplinary actions against offending Barangay Official, as prescribed by
Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of
1991, shall be in full force and effect under this Act.


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SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DILG, in consultation
with the Liga ng mga Barangay, DOH, and the Commission on Elections, shall
issue the rules and regulations to implement this Act within ninety (90) days
after its approval.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances or
portion there as well as rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity.—- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,