NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S. B. No. 68
INDEX
BILLS
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING OUR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THROUGH THE 
APPOINTMENT OF SUFFICIENT BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN CITIES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES AND ELEVATING THEIR STATUS FROM VOLUNTEERS TO JOB 
ORDER, CONTRACTUAL, CASUAL, OR REGULAR EMPLOYEES AND FURTHER 
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The significant role of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in the health sector 
paves the way for a better primary health care in our country. During the pandemic, 
our BHWs around the country were notably at the forefront of response against the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVlD-19) where they served as the bridgeway of 
communication between the health centers and constituents through door-to-door 
delivery of medicines, assistance in the vaccination drives, participation in contact 
tracing efforts, among others. Their invaluable service and contribution in 
strengthening primary health care leads to a lesser on curative health spending for 
the government.
The Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote 
the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Towards this, the State shall develop 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. There shall be priority 
for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children.
These policies emphasize the need for a strong and robust primary healthcare 
system in our country. This was especially highlighted in light of the current COVID- 
19 pandemic, wherein our health care system was quickly overloaded and our 
healthcare workers overworked and exhausted. It showed that one of our greatest 
challenges is the lack of adequate healthcare workers, facilities and equipment, 
especially in remote areas.
Considering that health care services have been devolved to the Local 
Government Units [LGU) pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991, the LGUs 
are given the fundamental duty to continue to strengthen the capacity of our Primary


Healthcare System, which must necessarily begin by looking at the people who carry 
it out.
As frontliners of our Primary Healthcare System, our Barangay Health workers 
(BHWs) must be given sufficient incentives, benefits and most of all just 
compensation for all the hard work they have done for us. The goal of improving the 
Primary Healthcare System necessarily carries with it the responsibility of taking care 
and supporting those in charge of implementing the same.
The Supreme Court's decision in the case of Mandanas vs. Ochoa1 clarified that 
the share of Local Government Units [LGU) of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) 
does not exclude other national taxes like customs duties.2 With the implementation 
of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling in 2022, it is projected that LGUs, individually and 
collectively, will have a 27.61% increase in their shares of the IRA. Therefore, there's 
an additional source of funds for the salaries and benefits of Barangay Health Workers 
who have tirelessly sacrificed for their community, especially during this pandemic. 
In light of this, the LGUs, as a matter of policy, should endeavor to hire Barangay 
Health Workers as casual workers, or on a contractual and job order basis, and then 
eventually as regular employees once the Mandanas-Garcia ruling is fully 
implemented.
The City of Taguig shows its support towards our BHWs through multiple 
incentives. Aside from their regular salary, they receive bonuses, and other benefits 
like training, overtime pay, and hazard pay. We have elevated their status to be 
formally employed under our LGU as Job Order [JO] and Casual Employees. Such 
benefits should not be limited only in Taguig because all the Filipinos deserve the best 
social services. We should start properly compensating, assisting, and building up the 
skills of our health workers, because they are our backbone for the efficient delivery 
of our overall health system.
As previously filed during the 18th Congress of the Philippines, this bill 
reiterates and expresses the importance of ensuring that Barangay Health Workers 
are integrated into the LGUs' organization as Job Order, Contractual, Casual, or 
Regular Employees and given proper compensation for their work, in recognition of 
their indispensable role in our Primary Healthcare System.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S. CAYETANO
1 G.R. No. 199802, July 3, 2018.
https://www.constitutionalreform.gov.ph/ufaqs/what-is-mandanas-ruling/


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S. B. No. ^
BILLS & INDEX
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER “COMPANERO'' S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING OUR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THROUGH THE 
APPOINTMENT OF SUFFICIENT BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN CITIES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES AND ELEVATING THEIR STATUS FROM VOLUNTEERS TO JOB 
ORDER, CONTRACTUAL, CASUAL, OR REGULAR EMPLOYEES AND FURTHER 
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "'Mahal Ko, Barangay 
Health Worker Ko Law".
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them. It is therefore the responsibility of the State to 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.
The State recognizes the importance of primary healthcare in ensuring the 
health and well-being of our communities, the direct responsibility for which has now 
been assumed by local governments, pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991, 
as amended.
As the frontliners of our primary healthcare, the State recognizes the vital role 
of Barangay Health Workers and the need to provide them with security of tenure, 
adequate benefits and just compensation, consistent with the principle of equal pay 
for equal work and work of equal value.
SECTION 3. Definition. - The term "Barangay Health Worker" refers to a 
person who has undergone training programs under any accredited government and 
non-government organization and who 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 appointed by the city or municipal mayor, as the case may be.


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SECTION 4. Ideal Ratio of Barangay Health Workers. - The DOH shall issue 
the guidelines as to the ideal number of Barangay Health Worker-to-population ratio. 
Such a number should be sufficient to allow the city or municipality to satisfactorily 
deliver primary healthcare to its constituents.
SECTION 5. Barangay Health Workers as employees of the Local 
Government Units (LGU). - The city or municipality shall hire the Barangay Health 
Workers as job order, casual, contractual, or regular employees.
Barangay Health Workers currently serving the city or municipality and 
receiving allowances therefrom shall be given preference in the hiring by the city or 
municipality under this Act.
SECTION 6. Compensation and Benefits. - Barangay Health Workers hired 
pursuant to this Act shall receive all the compensation and benefits given by the city 
or municipality to its Job Order, Contractual, Casual, or Regular Employees.
SECTION 7. Special Barangay Health Workers Assistance Program. - The
DOH, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
(DILG), shall create a. Special Barangay Health Workers Assistance Program, providing 
additional financial and technical assistance, training and other support to selected 
LGUs for their Barangay Health Workers. This program shall prioritize assistance to 
LGUs that have no or less capacity to give regular and adequate salaries/allowances 
to its Barangay Health Workers for the next ten (10) years, as determined by the DOH 
and DILG.
SECTION 8. Appropriation. - The amount needed for the implementation of 
this Act shall be charged against the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares of the 
cities and municipalities, particularly the additional funds to be received once the 
Mandanas-Garcia Ruling has been fully implemented.
The amount necessary for the initial implementation of the Special Barangay 
Health Workers Assistance Program shall be charged to the current appropriation of 
the DOH. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued implementation 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of the 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the Department of Health 
(DOH), shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, prepare the 
Implementing Rules and Regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts hereof not affected thereby shall 
remain valid.
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees, 
executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed 
accordingly.


SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,