Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  /,
Quezon City z

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNO. 183

Authored by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING SOCIAL SECURITY AND ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO
ALL BARANGAY OFFICIALS, WORKERS, AND VOLUNTEERS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Barangays as the basic political unit are the bedrock of governance
and nation-building and are expected by the people to perform many
basic services. It is high time that barangay officials be granted the same
benefits of a government employee.

Section 384, Chapter 1, Title 1, Book III of Republic Act No. 7160,
otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 states that the
barangay, as the basic political unit, "serves as the primary planning and
implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects and
activities in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views
of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered, and where
disputes may be amicably settled."

Barangay officials are the government's frontliners and do the
legwork in serving the people. Granting them the same benefits as any
other government employee is only fair to recognize their vital role in
carrying out the government's basic services down to communities.

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Most of the national government's efforts require the support and
involvement of barangays and so barangay officials should get the same
benefits of regular government employees.

Thus, this bill seeks to provide all Punong Barangays, Members of
the Sangguniang Barangay, Chairpersons of the Sangguniang Kabataan,
Barangay Secretaries, Barangay Treasurers and qualified members of the
Lupong Tagapamayapa, Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Tanods, and
other barangay volunteer workers social security benefits under the
programs of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Home Development
Mutual Fund (HDMF).

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

BIENVE! CABANTE, JR.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 139

Authored by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING SOCIAL SECURITY AND ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO
ALL BARANGAY OFFICIALS, WORKERS, AND VOLUNTEERS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION1. Title. This Act shall be known as the
"Barangay Officials and Workers Benefits Act".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the
policy of the State to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of our
barangay officials and workers being at the forefront of public service. As
such, the State is mandated to provide them remuneration, benefits and
other entitlements commensurate to their crucial role in nation-building.

SECTION 3. Coverage. All Punong Barangays, Members of
the Sangguniang Barangay, Chairpersons of the Sangguniang Kabataan,
Barangay Secretaries, Barangay Treasurers and qualified members of the
Lupong Tagapamayapa, Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Tanods, and
other barangay volunteer workers shall be automatically covered by this
Act: Provided, That the coverage for qualified barangay volunteer workers
shall be made in accordance with pertinent laws and regulations and
based on the qualification standards that may be established by the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other

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government agencies concerned: Provided, further, That when the
barangay official or volunteer worker receives a fixed salary whether in the
same capacity or by virtue of a permanent appointment in any other
government office, by election to another public office or by employment
in the private sector, their coverage under this Act shall automatically
cease and they shall then be covered under the appropriate law/s:
Provided, finally, That any of the abovementioned barangay official or
volunteer worker who shall automatically lose coverage or cease to be
covered by this Act by virtue of termination or resignation from office for
any lawful cause shall have the option to continue the coverage by paying
the required premiums thereon in accordance with pertinent Jaws and
regulations.

SECTION 4. Membership in the Government Service
Insurance System. The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
shall establish a social insurance program to provide life insurance and
social protection to barangay officials, workers and its volunteer workers
in accordance with pertinent laws and regulations.

SECTION 5. Enrolment in the National Health Insurance
Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PhilHealth). The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
shall enroll non-member barangay officials, workers and its volunteer
workers into the National Health Insurance Program in accordance with
pertinent laws and regulations.

SECTION 6. | Membership in the Membership Programs of
the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund). - The
Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) shall enroll non-
member barangay officials, workers and volunteers into the applicable
Pag-IBIG Fund Membership Program, in accordance with pertinent laws
and regulations.

SECTION 7. Education, Training and Skills Development
Programs. The Local Government Unit and the Civil Service
Commission, through different government departments and agencies,
shall develop a competency-based education and training curriculum for
all barangay workers including, but not limited to, the following:

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1. Combat skills and rescue training for barangay tanods with
the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire
Protection (BFP), Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and the Department of Health (DOH);

ay Aside from the training pursuant to RA No. 7883, an
additional one (1) month education and technical skills
training for Barangay Health Workers (BHW) with the
Department of Health; and

3. Clerical and administrative training under the programs of the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA).

SECTION7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) andthe
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in coordination with the
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Home Development Mutual
Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), in consultation with the Liga ng mga Barangay ng
Pilipinas (LnB), shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and
regulations with respect to the implementation of the provision of social
security benefits of this Act within ninety (go) days after its effectivity.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If for any
reason, any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid,
such parts or portions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and
effect.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. All_—laws, _—_decrees,
executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations which may be
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act, are hereby deemed
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. _Effectivity. This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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