Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No843?

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
PROVIDING SECURITY OF TENURE FOR BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE SECTION 6 (D) OF
REPUBLIC ACT 7883, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT OF 1995”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As providers of front-line health services at the barangay level, Barangay
Health Workers (BHWs) are collectively considered “guardians of the nation’s
health.” Rightly so, as after undergoing proper training from the Department of
Health (DOH), they perform a wide range of health care services such as: first aid,
collecting vital statistics, records keeping, equipment sterilization, assisting in
nutrition education, monitoring and feeding, assisting in immunization education,
monitoring and dispensing, assisting in family planning services, among others.

The DOH acknowledges that the country still needs more BHWs. However,
while Republic Act No. 7883 granted incentives and benefits to BHWs in 1995, it
seems that the same are no longer enough to attract more BHWs. This may be
because under RA 7883, BHWs will only be granted a second-grade civil service
eligibility after five (5) years of continuous service. As such, their tenure is not
secure,

This bill amends RA 7883 by shortening the number of years BHWs need to
serve, from five years to two years of satisfactory service, to earn a second-grade
civil eligibility. Hopefully, that will be enough incentive to enlarge our pool of
guardians of the nation’s health.

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


Republic of the Plilippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Aletes Mile

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 6437

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
PROVIDING SECURITY OF TENURE FOR BARANGAY HEALTH
WORKERS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE SECTION 6 (D) OF
REPUBLIC ACT 7883, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKERS BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT OF 1995”

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

SECTION 1. Section 6 (d) of Republic Act No. 7883 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

SEC. 6 Incentives and Benefits. — In recognition of
their services, all accredited barangay health workers
who are actively and regularly performing their duties
shall be entitled to the following incentives and benefits:

“xxx

d) Civil Service Eligibility. — A second grade eligibility
shall be granted to a barangay health worker who has
rendered [five (5)] TWO (2) years OF continuous AND
SATISFACTORY service [as such]: Provided, that THE
LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD, GUIDED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SHALL ESTABLISH
STANDARDS FOR EVALUATING THE BHW’S
PERFORMANCE TO MERIT A SATISFACTORY RATING;
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT should the barangay health
worker become a regular employee of the government,
the total number of years served as barangay health


worker shall be credited to his or her service in
computing retirement benefits.

NO PERSON DULY ACCREDITED AS BARANGAY
HEALTH WORKER SHALL BE DISMISSED EXCEPT FOR
CAUSE AS PROVIDED UNDER EXISTING CIVIL
SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ONLY
AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING.

xxx”

SECTION 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of the
Department of Health and the Secretary of the Department of Interior and
Local Government shall formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations
(IRR) for the effective implementation of this Act within thirty (30) days from
the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders and
other presidential issuances which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,