HOLST 9 PE ORESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

D,

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

. RESISTRATION UNIT
House Bill Nox_1391 L_BES AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Representative Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 384 of the Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government
Code, reads:

“As the basic political unit, the Barangay serves as the primary planning and
implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects and activities
in the community, as a forum wherein the collective views of people may be
expressed, crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably
settled.”

Barangay leaders and volunteers are the pillars of public service and governance at
the community level. They are not only responsible in attending to the basic needs of their
constituents but they also facilitate citizen participation, thus making governments more
effective in responding to people’s needs.

To empower these public servants to effectively carry out their responsibilities, it is
only fitting that the State shall provide barangay officials and volunteer workers with
incentives and benefits.

This bill seeks to strengthen the country’s 42,036 barangays by providing financial,
medical, training, and legal support for their elected officials and volunteer workers.

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

‘ALFREDO D. VARGAS III


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1391

House Bill No._~

Introduced by Representative Alfredo D. Vargas III

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAYS THROUGH SUPPORT FOR BARANGAY OFFICIALS
AND VOLUNTEER WORKERS

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 Officials and
Volunteer Incentives and Benefits Act of 2016,”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
strengthen the barangays by providing adequate support to barangay officials and
volunteer workers and improve the provision of line government service to the people at
the barangay level. The State acknowledges the need to provide incentives and benefits in
order to properly compensate and equip our barangay officials and volunteer workers with
the necessary training and enable them to efficiently and effectively carry out their
mandated task for the great benefit of our people.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean;

a) Barangay Officials refer to officials enumerated under Section 387 (a) of
Republic Act No. 7160 as amended, otherwise known as the Local Government
Code of 1991 namely, the punong barangay, sangguniang barangay members,
sangguniang kabataan chairperson, secretary, and treasurer;

b

Volunteer Workers refer to Barangay Health Workers and members of the
Barangay Tanod Brigade;

©) Barangay Health Worker (BHW) refers to a person who has undergone
training programs under any accredited government and non-government
organization and who has voluntarily rendered 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


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4) Barangay Tanods refer to all duly appointed members of the barangay tanod
brigades, which shall number not more than twenty (20) in each barangay as
prescribed under the Local Government Code of 1991.

Section 4. Honorarium of BHWs and Barangay Tanods. -In order to ease the
financial burden of our barangay volunteer workers, one (1) BHW in each barangay and
barangay tanods, which shall not be more than twenty (20) in each barangays, shall receive
a monthly honorarium of at least Five hundred pesos (500) chargeable against the budget
of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) respectively: Provided, That the barangays may opt to give additional honorarium
equally to all barangay volunteer workers, which shall be charged against the local budget
of each barangay; Provided, further, that herein contained shall diminish or remove the
honorarium already granted to volunteer workers before the effectivity of this Act.

Section 5. Other Incentives and Benefits of Barangay Officials and Volunteer
Workers. - In recognition of their services, the national government shall, in addition to
the financial benefits, provide barangay officials and volunteer workers with the following
incentives and benefits;

a) Training and workshops on how to effectively exercise their duty provided by
the DILG for Barangay Tanods and DOH for BHWs, and such other training fit for
barangay officials and volunteer workers;

b)

PhilHealth 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 the indigent barangay volunteer
worker shall be covered through the full national government subsidy scheme;
and;

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Free legal services from government lawyers or the Public Attorney's Office
(PAO) for cases arising out of or in connection with performance of their duties
as such; Provided, That such legal services shall continue, even after the
expiration of the term of barangay officials, until its final disposition,

Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - The Department of Interior and
Local Government, in consultation with the National Liga ng mga Barangay and the
Department of Health, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this
Act.

Section 7. Separability Clause. - If any of the section or provision of this Act is held
invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective.

Section 8. Repealing Clause. - Section 393 of the Local Government Code of 1991,
Republic Act No, 7883 otherwise known as the “Barangay Health Workers Benefits and
Incentives Act of 1995” all laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.


Section 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,