Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The barangay is the foundational unit of Philippine governance. An optimized capability 
to deliver services by the barangay in a wide range of services will benefit the nation.  
Health services are a mandated function of the barangay, as per Section 17 of Republic Act 
No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which states that the barangay shall 
provide “health and social welfare services which include maintenance of barangay health 
center and day-care center.” But while RA 7160 mandates that the barangay provide health 
services, it does not mandate the appointment of full-time health workers to ably deliver 
said services. 
By appointing full-time health workers, access to affordable health care will be available 
to our constituents. This is especially true in far-flung areas that are yet to have easy access 
to hospitals. In fact, even in urban areas, steep prices often bar underprivileged sectors from 
seeking necessary medical attention.  
This bill seeks to address that oversight by ensuring that every barangay will have a 
proportionate number of accredited full-time health workers, thereby guaranteeing that the 
barangay fulfills its obligation to provide health services. These health workers shall be 
appointed by the municipal or city mayor, given that they are accredited by the local health 
board. These health workers will have security of tenure. 
With the designation of barangay health workers, citizens in all corners of the nation will 
be able to enjoy their right to accessible, affordable, and quality health care. 
Thus, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI 
Representative 
Third District, Bukidnon  
October 28, 2021
9:05 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN 
EVERY BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Barangay Health Workers Act 
of 2021.”  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Pursuant to Section 11, Article XIII 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 health needs, the State shall guarantee the 
appointment of a health worker in every barangay as frontline health workers. 
SEC. 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 guidelines 
issued by the Department of Health (DOH). 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. 
SEC. 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.” 
SEC. 5. A New provision shall be inserted between Sections 359 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 NO. 7883, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND BENEFITS 
ACT OF 1996, SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY MAYOR OF 
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THE AREA WHERE SUCH BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER WILL BE APPOINTED 
IS LOCATED. A BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 
HONORARIA, 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 SERVICE 
RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ONLY AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING.” 
 
SEC. 6. Section 393, paragraphs (a) and (b) of the Local Government Code of 1991, 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 that One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) 
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, however, That the annual appropriations 
for personal services shall be subject to budgetary limitations prescribed under Title Five, 
Book II 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: xxx 
 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Interior and Local 
Government, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission, shall within ninety (90) 
days from the enactment of this Act, promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the 
implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or 
invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent 
with or contrary to this Act are hereby deemed accordingly repealed or amended. 
 
SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,