'.‘^Jffirr ci
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ] 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ] 
First Regular Session 
]
25 JUL15 PI :54
S.B. No
SENATE
637
RrCtl\ ..0 B';
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF 
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As we have seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, barangay health 
workers (BHWs) form a core part of the country's frontline health system. BHWs play 
a crucial role in assisting and supporting physicians, dentist, nutritionists, public health 
nurses, and midwives in delivering essential health services to their respective 
communities.
Aside from being a primary health care service provider, BHWs also perform 
other equally important roles. As a community organizer, BHWs bridge the 
communication barriers between the community and the health care delivery system 
by assisting the community in identifying health problems, developing health plans, 
and taking action to promote their health and well-being. As an educator, BHWs 
provide updated and timely knowledge and skills to community members in the 
prevention and management of simple illnesses and other relevant health issues.
BHWs have different tasks depending on the agreement reached between 
community leaders, but there appears to be disparity between the benefits,


compensation and protections accorded to them by Republic Act No. 7883 or the 
"Barangay Health Workers' Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995" and the actual role, 
functions, and responsibilities they undertake. Thus, this measure seeks to provide 
the much-needed improvement of the legally-mandated BHW benefits and incentives, 
to be more attuned with the changing needs of our barangay health frontliners, and 
in consideration of the vital role they currently endeavor for their communities - being 
the community organizer, educator, and primary health care service provider, all at 
the same time.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this message is eari
sought.
IN GATCHALIAN


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'Z'i i •
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 JUL 15 PI 54
S. B. No.
SENATE
637
Ri:CD. id BV.
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF 
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carta of 
Barangay Health Workers".
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
consciousness among them. It is also the policy 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 communities.
The State acknowledges that primary health care is a key component in 
attaining universal health care and, with the support of local government units 
(LGUs), the participation of communities, and volunteerism of the population, 
is an effective strategy towards realizing health empowerment and delivering


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effective health care programs and services.
The State values the indispensable role of barangay health workers 
(BHWs) as frontliners in providing primary health care sen/ices and, therefore, 
shall adopt policies that will harness their potential as partners in national 
development.
Pursuant thereto, the State shall define their roles and responsibilities, 
prescribe the methods for their recruitment and retention, identify programs 
for capacity-building and career advancement, and provide avenues to ventilate 
and resolve issues concerning them.
In recognition of the spirit of volunteerism and concern for the 
upliftment of the health status of communities, the State shall also promote 
the welfare and well-being of volunteer BHWs and provide them incentives and 
benefits through the collaborative efforts of LGUs and the national government.
SEC. 3. Coverage.Act shall cover all BHWs, whether as volunteers 
or employees of government, and all LGUs and national government agencies 
that mobilize BHWs to expand the delivery of primary health care services to 
communities, families, and individuals.
CHAPTER II
THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN 
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
SEC. 4. The Role of BHWs in Providing Primary Health Care. - The BHWs 
shall serve as frontliners in supporting the delivery of primary health care in 
the community. They shall form part of the community health teams of the 
barangay health station, health center, or any other primary health care facility 
of the municipality/city health office established to provide primary healthcare 
services to a barangay or a part of it, or a cluster of barangays. For this 
purpose, BHWs are hereby declared as members of the cadre of community 
healthcare workers.
The head of the barangay health station. Health Center, or any other


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primary health care facility, of the municipality/city health office, shall exercise
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day-to-day direct control and supervision over the BHWs.
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The BHW shall perform the following roles:
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(a) Primary Health Care Service Provider - to assist the health facilities
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in providing primary health care services to the members of the
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community;
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(b) Health Educator - to provide knowledge and skills to community
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members in the prevention and management of simple illnesses;
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(c) Community Organizer - to organize and mobilize the community
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towards self-reliance; and
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(d) Record Keeper - to assist in the development and maintenance of a
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community health profile, and collect health data and information of
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families and individuals in the community.
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Pursuant to Republic Act No. 11223, or the "Universal Health Care Act",
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certified BHWs, who have undergone the certification process under Section
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10 of this Act, shall serve as primary care workers and act as the navigator,
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initial, and continuing point of contact in the health care delivery system. They
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shall endorse patients to the next level of health care provider within the
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health care provider network to which the barangay health station, health
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center, or any other primary health care unit belongs: Provided, That except
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in emergency or serious cases and when proximity is a concern, access to
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higher levels of care shall be coordinated by the certified BHWs.
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To effectively and efficiently perform these roles and expectations, the
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BHWs to be assigned to a barangay should be residents of the community.
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The Department of Health (DOH) shall promulgate the policies,
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guidelines, and the specific duties and responsibilities of registered and
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certified BHWs.
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SEC. 5. Coordination Between the Heaith Station/Heaith Center/Heaith
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Care Faciiity of the Municipai/City Health Office with the Barangay. - The head
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of the barangay health station, health center, or any other primary health care
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facility, of the municipal/city health office shall coordinate and collaborate with


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the punong barangay, or with several punong barangays\n the case of health 
centers providing services to a cluster of barangays, in the implementation of 
programs and activities to address the primary health care needs of the 
communities.
Pursuant to Section 17(b)(ii) of the Local Government Code, the punong 
barangay shall support the delivery of health services in the community by 
ensuring the maintenance of the health station/center, particularly in providing 
the necessary additional logistical support, supplies, and services needed by 
BHWs.
SEC. 6. Number of Barangay Health Workers. - The determination of 
the number of BHWs who can serve a barangay or a cluster thereof shall be 
guided by and based on, among others, the catchment population, the 
community health profile, and the need for different primary health care 
services.
The DOH, in consultation with LGUs, shall determine the ideal ratio of 
BHWs with the required competencies to households and issue an updated 
policy on this ratio every five (5) years.
CHAPTER III
REGISTRATION, CAPABILITY-BUILDING AND RETENTION
SEC. 7. Registration. - In addition to qualifications to be set by the 
municipal/city health board, an applicant must meet the following requirements 
to qualify as a BHW:
(a) At least eighteen (18) years of age at the date of the filing of the 
application for registration;
(b) Physically and mentally fit; and
(c) With basic BHW orientation and training as prescribed by the DOH 
completed in the same year of application for registration.


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Eligible applicants shall register with the local health board in the
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municipality or city where they reside and intend to render sen/ice and shall be
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given appropriate proof of said registration.
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It shall be the duty of the municipal/city health offices, in cooperation
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with the provincial health offices of the DOH, to provide interested BHW
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applicants with basic orientation and training.
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SEC. 8. Role of the Municipal/City Local Health Boards. - In addition to
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their functions under Section 102, Title V of the Local Government Code, as
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amended, the municipal/city health boards shall prescribe the policies and
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guidelines and be responsible for the recruitment, selection, registration,
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certification, retention and removal of, and the resolution of complaints and
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grievances involving, BHWs in their jurisdictions.
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The decisions of the municipal/city health board with regard to the
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revocation of registration of a BHW or on the resolution of complaints and
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grievances of and against BHWs may be appealed to the provincial health board
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and, thereafter, to the Department of the Interior and Local Government
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(DILG).
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The DILG, in collaboration with the DOH, shall provide the general
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guidelines in setting up the grievance and appeal mechanism.
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SEC. 9. National BHW Information System. - A National BHW
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Information System shall be established and maintained by the DOH, in
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partnership with the Department of Information and Communications
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Technology (DICT), to assist the national government and LGUs in formulating
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and implementing policies and programs for the organization and development
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of the cadre of BHWs.
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The Information System shall be the sole source of real-time data and
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information on BHWs nationwide. It shall contain the list of all BHWs at the
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barangay, municipal, city, and provincial levels, their socio-demographic
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profiles, qualifications, areas of assignment, and other information that the
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DOH may deem necessary.


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The municipal/city health boards shall be responsible for registering and
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continuously updating the records of BHWs in their jurisdictions.
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The provincial health boards, with the assistance of the DOH, shall
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provide training to municipal/city health boards within the province on the use
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of the Information System and ensure that the local health boards regularly
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submit accurate data and information on their BHWs.
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SEC. 10. Certification of BHWs. - To ensure the health and welfare of
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the community and further professionalize the cadre of BHWs in rendering
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primary health care services, a duly registered BHW shall undergo certification
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by the municipal/city health board.
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The DOH, in consultation with the Technical Education and Skills
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Development Authority (TESDA), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
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and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), shall promulgate the policies,
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standards, and guidelines for the certification of competency of BHWs.
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To qualify for certification, a registered BHW must have:
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(a) Completed at least two (2) years of continuous service in the locality;
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(b) Completed the training on the roles, duties, and responsibilities of a
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BHW, as prescribed by the DOH;
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(c) Provided satisfactory performance as evaluated by the health care
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professional supervising the concerned BHW immediately prior to the
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filing of application for certification; and
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(d) Completed the courses of the certification component of the
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Education and Training Program, provided in Section 11 of this Act.
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The municipal/city health boards shall act on the applications for
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certification of BHWs not later than thirty (30) days from the date of application
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and issue the certificate of competency to qualified BHWs upon inspection,
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verification, or testing of their conformity to policies, standards, and guidelines
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issued by the DOH.


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It shall be the duty of the municipal/city governments, in cooperation
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with the provincial government and the DOH, to provide the applicant BHWs
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the necessary support and opportunities for certification.
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SEC. 11. Education and Training Program for BHWs. - The DOH and the
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TESDA, in collaboration with the CSC, the CHED, relevant government agencies,
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LCDs, education institutions, and stakeholders, shall develop and
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institutionalize a continuing competency-based education and training
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curriculum for all BHWs.
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The curriculum shall train the BHWs as primary health care service
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providers, health educators, community organizers, and record keepers. It shall
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prescribe the courses for the certification component and for the continuing
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health education and capacity-building of all BHWs.
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The DOH and the TESDA shall complement the competency-based
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education and training curriculum by making available web-based and mobile
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application for the purposes of:
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(a) Providing training materials to enhance the knowledge and skills of
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BHWs;
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(b) Offering forums for BHWs to communicate, share experiences, and
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seek advice from peers and health professionals;
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(c) Disseminating new policies, programs, and guidelines pertaining to
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their roles and responsibilities;
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(d) Facilitating reporting and feedback mechanisms to improve service
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delivery and address challenges faced in the field; and
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(e) Offering resources including health and wellness programs for
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personal and professional development.
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SEC. 12. Inclusion of the BHW Positions in the Government Plantilla. -
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The Department of Budget Management (DBM), in consultation with the CSC,
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the DOH and LGUs, shall establish the position classification and the
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corresponding salary grades for BHWs in the Index of Occupational Standards.
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Municipalities and cities may employ BHWs in their respective LGUs.


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SEC. 13. Retention and Continuous Service of BHWs. - Registered and 
certified BHWs shall continue to perform their roles, duties, and responsibilities 
except due to the withdrawal of an individual as a BHW or removal for cause 
by the municipality/city health board after due process. The continuity of 
services of BHWs, revocation of their registration, or their removal from the 
cadre of BHWs, shall follow the policies and guidelines promulgated by the DILG 
and the DOH.
CHAPTER IV
INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, OF BHWs
SEC. 14. Incentives and Benefits of BHWs. - (a) In recognition of the 
time, services, and resources they contribute, registered and certified volunteer 
BHWs shall receive, or be provided with, the following:
(1) Monthly Honoraria. - A monthly honorarium of not less than Three 
thousand pesos (P3,000.00) for registered BHWs and not less than Five 
thousand pesos (P5,000.00) for certified BHWs: Provided, That no diminution 
of monthly honoraria can be made on BHWs already receiving more than the 
herein prescribed minimum amounts: Provided, further, That the DOH, in 
coordination with the DILG and the DBM, shall review and adjust the minimum 
honoraria every three (3) years;
(2) Transportation Allowance/Expense Reimbursements. - Registered 
and certified BHWs shall be provided by the barangay with transportation 
allowance or to reimbursement of actual transportation expense for the 
performance of their functions, as may be authorized by law or regulation: 
Provided, That the barangay may, instead, provide applicable forms of 
transportation to enable the BHWs to provide the needed primary health care 
service: Provided, further. That the municipality or city, through their health 
offices, may shoulder such allowance or expense: Provided, finally. That official 
travel, such as seminars, conferences, and transport of patients outside of the 
barangay or locality, shall be shouldered by the barangay, municipality, city, or


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province that authorized such official travel and shall not be deducted from the 
honoraria of the BHWs;
(3) Subsistence Allowance. - The concerned municipality or city shall 
provide BHWs who render sen/ice in unserved or underserved barangays where 
they are not residents to make their services available at any and all times, with 
subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals taken during their duty, which 
shall be computed following prevailing circumstances. In no case shall such 
subsistence allowance be less than One hundred pesos (PIOO.OO) per day;
(4) Hazard Allowance. - BHWs who, in the exercise of their duties, are 
exposed to situations, conditions, or factors in the work environment or place 
where foreseeable but unavoidable danger or risks to their health, life, or on 
their person exist, including assignment to communities in or recovering from 
a situation of armed conflict, as validated by proper authorities, shall be paid a 
hazard allowance by the concerned municipality or city in an amount to be 
determined by its local health board and the local peace and order council, 
which shall in no case be less than One thousand pesos (PI,000.00) per month, 
subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations;
(5) Insurance Coverage. - Insurance coverage and benefit packages 
from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), suited to their needs 
and unique circumstances, shall be borne by the concerned municipality or city. 
For this purpose, the GSIS shall design such appropriate insurance packages;
(6) Health Emergency Allowance During Public Health Emergency. - 
Volunteer BHWs who are part of the National BHW Information System and are 
assigned to health facilities and barangay health emergency response teams 
during public health emergencies shall be entitled to the Health Emergency 
Allowance (HEA) and other benefits prescribed in Republic Act No. 11712. The 
national government shall provide funds for the payment of the HEA and other 
benefits;


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(7) Cash Gift. - The BHWs shall be entitled to a cash gift not less than 
the minimum monthly honoraria, to be given every December;
(8) One-time Dedicated Service Recognition Incentive. - A BHW who 
withdraws as a registered or certified BHW but has continuously and 
satisfactorily served for at least fifteen (15) years shall, in recognition of their 
loyalty, dedication, and service, be entitled to a one-time incentive of not less 
than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00), which shall be borne by the 
municipality or city concerned. The national and provincial governments shall 
assist in case of non-availability of funds from the concerned municipality or 
component city;
(9) Education and Career Advancement. - The DOH, in coordination with 
the Department of Education, CHED, TESDA, CSC, other concerned national 
government agencies, non-government organizations, and LGUs, shall provide 
information on, and opportunities for, education and career advancement for 
BHWs, such as:
(i) Educational programs that credit the years of primary health care 
service of the BHW and the number of training hours gained 
during attendance to courses covered by the Education and 
Training Program under Section 11 of this Act towards higher 
education completion in institutions with step-ladder curricula, as 
provided under Republic Act No. 10968, otherwise known as the 
"PQF Act", and Republic Act No. 10647, otherwise known as the 
"Ladderized Education Act of 2014", thus allowing them to 
upgrade their skills and knowledge for community work or to 
pursue further training as health care professionals;
Continuing education, study and exposure tours, field immersion, 
and scholarship and financial grants, among others;
Scholarship grant or financial assistance to one (1) child of a BHW 
who is unable to take advantage of the programs described in 
paragraphs (i) and (ii) hereof; and
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(ii)
(iii)


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(iv) Special training programs, such as traditional medicine, disaster 
preparedness, and other programs that address emergent 
community health problems and issues;
(10) Free Legal Services. - Legal representation and consultation 
services shall be immediately provided by the Public Attorney's Office to a BHW 
in cases of coercion or interference, and in other civil and criminal cases filed 
by or against the BHW arising out of or in connection with the performance of 
their duties; and
(11) Preferential Access to Government Livelihood Programs. - 
Government agencies providing livelihood programs shall provide organized 
BHWs with preferential access to loan services:
Provided, That in the provision of the monthly honoraria and the cash 
gift, and in consideration of the financial assistance of the national government 
to third, fourth, and fifth class municipalities, as provided under Section 15 of 
this Act, the provinces, in consultation with component cities, municipalities, 
and barangays within their jurisdiction, shall determine the actual amount or 
percentage share of the amount that each LGU will give to BHWs: Provided, 
further. That nothing herein limits the barangay, municipality, city, or province 
from fully shouldering the provision of the monthly honoraria and the cash gift: 
Provided, furthermore. That nothing herein prevents the barangay, 
municipality, city, and province from providing additional monetary and non­
monetary benefits to BHWs to supplement those given by another concerned 
LGU within the province: Provided, finally. That these honoraria shall be given 
starting January of the ensuing fiscal year unless the LGUs, singly or 
collectively, immediately provide the needed funding.
(b) Certified BHWs shall be granted sub-professional eligibility if they 
have rendered at least five (5) years of continuous service as such: Provided, 
That should a BHW become a regular employee of the government, the total
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numbers of years served as such shall be credited to the BMW's service in the 
computation of retirement benefits.
The emoluments, incentives, benefits, honoraria, allowances, and 
reimbursements of BHWs employed by the municipality, city, province, or 
national government agencies on a regular, contractual, casual, or job order 
basis shall be governed by civil service laws and the policies issued by the CSC, 
the Office of the President, the DBM, and the LGU under which they are 
employed.
SEC. 15. BHW Deployment Subsidy to Low-Income Municipalities. - 
There is hereby mandated a BHW Deployment Subsidy to Low-Income 
Municipalities to provide financial assistance to third, fourth, and fifth class 
municipalities and enable them to deploy a sufficient number of volunteer BHWs 
in their communities, particularly to unserved or underserved areas in their 
jurisdictions, and provide incentives to dedicated volunteer BHWs. Priority shall 
he given to municipalities with no or less capacity to give regular and adequate 
monthly honoraria and other incentives to their BHWs, as determined by the 
DOH and the DILG.
SEC. 16. Discrimination Prohibited. - Discrimination against any BHW by 
reason of gender, civil status, creed, religious, or political beliefs, and ethnic 
groupings in the exercise of their functions and responsibilities is hereby 
prohibited.
SEC. 17. Prohibition on Participation in Political Activities. - To maintain 
their integrity and impartiality, and eliminate the possibility of conflicts with 
their catchment households, BHWs are prohibited from participating in partisan 
political activities. Any BHW who files an application as a candidate in any 
political position is hereby deemed removed from the list of registered BHWs 
or resigned from government service, as the case may be. Participation in
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political activities shall serve as basis for the local health board to remove BHWs 
from the list of registered BHWs.
CHAPTER V
ASSOCIATIONS AND FEDERATIONS OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS
SEC. 18. Associations and Federations of BHWs. - There shall be 
organized associations of BHWs at the municipal and city levels and federations 
at the provincial, regional, sub-national, and national levels. The BHW 
associations of highly urbanized cities that are independent from provinces 
where they are located, and LCDs in the National Capital Region, shall directly 
become members of regional, sub-national and national federations.
These associations and federations shall serve as the venues to ventilate 
issues and formulate and communicate policy proposals concerning BHWs, 
particularly on their roles and duties as the frontliners, as well as their welfare 
and well-being, in supporting the delivery of primary health care services in the 
community.
The municipal and city associations and the provincial, regional, and sub­
national federations shall elect their respective president, vice-president, 
secretary, treasurer, and other officers as they may deem necessary.
The national federation shall elect a board of directors headed by a 
chairperson and a set of national officers headed by a national president, as 
prescribed in their constitution and by-laws. A secretary-general shall be chosen 
from among the national federation members to manage the day-to-day 
operations and activities of the federation. The board of directors may create 
such other positions necessary for the management of the affairs of the national 
federation.
SEC. 19. Consuitation with Local Health Boards. - The different local 
health boards shall consult the associations and federations under their 
jurisdictions on, among others, the roles and responsibilities of BHWs for the 
effective delivery of primary health care services.
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CHAPTER VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 20. Observance ofBHWDay. - Every barangay shall commemorate 
BHW Day on April 7 of every year in recognition of the service of BHWs, their 
heroic services in times of crisis, and their indispensable role in promoting 
health and wellness among the citizenry.
The DOH, in cooperation with the DILG and all LGUs, shall hold simple 
ceremonies or activities to highlight the indispensable role of BHWs in nation­
building.
SEC. 21. Penalty Clause. - A local government official who violates any 
provision of this Act shall be administratively and criminally charged in 
accordance with law.
SEC. 22. Annual Accomplishment Reports. - The DOH and the DILG shall 
submit to the Office of the President, the Senate of the Philippines and the 
House of Representatives, an annual report on the accomplishments and 
challenges with regard to the implementation of this Act.
SEC. 23. Appropriations. - The amounts necessary for the 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the funds of LGUs and the 
appropriations of the DOH.
The amounts necessary for the initial implementation of the BHW 
Deployment Subsidy to Low-Income Municipalities shall be charged against the 
current year's appropriations of the DOH and, thereafter, shall be included in 
the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH and the DILG 
shall, in consultation with LGUs, the national federation of BHWs, the CSC, the 
DBM, the TESDA, the CHED, the GSIS, other concerned government agencies, 
non-government organizations, and academic and training institutions,
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promulgate the rules and regulations to implement this Act not later than one 
hundred eighty (180) days from its effectivity.
SEC. 25. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full 
force and effect.
SEC. 26. Repeating Clause. - Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known 
as the "Barangay Health Workers' Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995" is 
hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and 
regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.
SEC. 27. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
from its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,
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