RECEIVED

ates 3 JUN 2015

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REGISTRATION UNIT

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT!
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by AKBAYAN Representative Tomasito S. Villarin

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution lays down
the national health policy 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 an affordable cost."

The country’s Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) are a critical
component of the community-based health system. They serve as the
frontline provider of health services at the barangay level.

Apart from direct health services, they also act as health educators
and community organizers. In most cases, they serve as first health
responders in far flung villages where there are no medical
practitioners to address illnesses of the residents. More importantly,
they are also the first responders in times of calamities.

Statistics reveal that there are 219,433 active BHWs in the country’s
42,028 barangays. Far-flung barangays have only one or two heaith
volunteers. Being volunteers, they do not enjoy fixed allowances,
security of tenure or retirement benefits.

This legislative proposal aims to prescribe fixed monthly compensation
for BHWs. Furthermore, this bill seeks to introduce a Community
Health Worker Education and Training Program that will provide
capacity-building programs for BHWs.

By developing BHWs into skilled medical professionals and ensuring a
continuous supply of grassroots public health workers supports the
State’s objective of responding to the growing health needs of local
communities.

HOUSE 9F REPRESENTATIVES

337 BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE


The immediate passage of this measure is earnestly s

Pa

TOMASITO S. VILLARIN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
337

House Bill No.

Introduced by AKBAYAN Representative Tomasito S. Villarin

AN ACT
CREATING THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER EDUCATION AND
TRAINING PROGRAM, INCREASING COMPENSATION AND OTHER
BENEFITS FOR BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS (BHW),
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. TITLE. - This Act shall be known as the “Bibong BHW
Act of 2016”.

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES. - It is 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 all the people at affordable cost. In furtherance of
this, the State shall endeavor to provide accessible and quality health
services through barangay health workers as front-liners in community-
based health interventions.

SECTION 3. COVERAGE. - The provisions of this Act shall be
applicable to all barangay health workers under Republic Act No. 7883. 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, pursuant to Republic Act No. 7883.

SECTION 4. SIX-MONTH EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM
FOR COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH WORKERS. The Department of
Health, in coordination with the University of the Philippines, shall develop a
competency-based education and training curriculum for all barangay
health workers. The curriculum shall train the community health workers
as healthcare provider, community organizer, health service manager,
trainer and educator, and researcher. It shall include basic orientation and
training on health programs and institutionalized health service delivery

1


system, primary healthcare, basic community organizing, local health
research, social health insurance navigation, basic local resource generation
and mobilization, training needs analysis, basic report writing and
communication skills, and program planning and development. Courses on
basic dental care, reproductive health, STI and HIV/AIDS prevention,
nutrition, physical therapy, traditional and herbal medicine and reflexology
shall also be offered.

SECTION 6. ACCREDITATION AND COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT.
~ The Department of Health, in coordination with local governments and the
Civil Service Commission, shall conduct a competency assessment test upon
completion of the Education and Training Program, provided that this
requirement shall be waived for those who have served as Barangay Health
Workers for five (5) or more years. Only those who have passed the
assessment test or have served as BHWs for five years or more will be
accredited. The Provincial Health Board, with the participation of TESDA,
PhilHealth, and accredited training NGOs, is hereby mandated to carry out
the accreditation of Barangay Health Workers.

SECTION 7. PROGRAM COST AND COST SHARING FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNITS. - The basic Education and Training Program shall
be offered free of charge. Local governments shall adopt a cost-sharing
financing scheme with the National Government through the DOH for the
implementation of the basic course on Barangay Health Work depending on
the income level of the concerned local government units.

SECTION 8. COMPENSATION AND OTHER INCENTIVES. - All
accredited Barangay Health Workers shall be entitled to a monthly basic pay
of six thousand pesos (PhP6,000.00). They shall likewise be entitled to the
incentives and benefits provided under the Magna Carta for Public Health
Workers, and shall be covered by all existing statutory benefits such as
PAG-IBIG, GSIS and Philhealth. In addition, they shall be given burial and
disability assistance in case of death or if the BHW is afflicted by illness
which results to disability, especially if such occurs in the duration of his
service. A regular adjustment in monetary and other non-monetary
incentives shall be made to help improve the living condition of Barangay
Health Workers.

A BHW who has served less than five (5) years upon the passage of
this Act will be given a pro-rated amount based on years of service. S/he will
be given first priority in enlisting for the Education and Training Program.

SECTION 9. COMPENSATION BASED ON PHILHEALTH
UTILIZATION. - Philhealth is directed to develop a compensation package
for accredited BHWs based on Philhealth utilization for programs including
but not limited to social health insurance navigation, maternal neo-natal
child health care and nutrition, primary care packages, rehabilitation and
recovery of senior citizens and Persons with Disability (PWD), provided that


compensation received from Philhealth will be over and above the monthly
basic pay.

SECTION 10. MANDATORY CONTINUING COMMUNITY-BASED
HEALTH EDUCATION. - The DOH, in cooperation with TESDA, will
formulate a module for Mandatory Continuing Community-based Health
Education (MCCHE). Each accredited BHW will be required undergo an
MCCHE at least every three (3) years of active service, or as warranted by
the DOH.

SECTION 11, IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES. - Within one (1) year
from the effectivity of this Act, the TESDA and DOH, with the participation
of various health union representatives shall formulate, finalize and launch
the BHW education training program, assessment, and national certification
program. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), DOH,
LGUs, and other appropriate government agencies, with the participation of
various health union representatives, shall provide the Implementing Rules
and Regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. The
Implementing Rules and Regulations shall be published in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

SECTION 12. FUNDING SOURCE. - An initial allocation of Fifty
Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be included in the General
Appropriations to support the policies and objectives under this Act.
Congress shall provide subsequent appropriations in the annual budget of
the Department of Health from sin tax revenues.

SECTION 13. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - Should any provision of
this Act be declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected
thereby shall remain valid and operational.

SECTION 14. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, orders,
circulars, issuances, rules and regulations and parts thereof which are
inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 15. EFFECTIVITY. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspaper
of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,