FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
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 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. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
9 JAN 26 /’ 5 :.;-I 
S E N A T E  
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INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
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 PhiIippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Barangay Health Workers 
Act of 2009. ” 
SECTION 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 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 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 
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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 government or non-government 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 WORKER AS ACCREDITED AND 
RECOMMENDED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY HEALTH BOARD IN ACCORDANCE 
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT N0.7883, 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 TO. NO 
PERSON DULY APPOINTED AS A BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER SHALL BE 
REMOVED EXCEPT FOR VALID CAUSE AS PROVIDED UNDER EXISTING CIVIL 
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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 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, 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,OOO.OO) per month for the punong barangay and Six Hundred 
Pesos (P600.00) per month for the sangguniang barangay members, barangay treasurer, [and] 
barangay secretary AND BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS: Provided, howeve4 that the 
annual appropriations for personal services shall be subject to the budgetary limitations 
prescribed under Title Five, Book I1 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 WORKER shall 
also: 
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SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and 
Local Government, in coordination with the and the Civil Service Commission, shall within 
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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, 
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