NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1682
Senate
of tl)? ^rcrrtffrp
23 JAN 17 P4 *47
RECEIVED BY.
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT TO IMPROVE AND TO PROMOTE QUALITY DELIVERY OF HEALTH 
SERVICES IN BARANGAYS, ENCATING THE "BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS AND SERVICES REFORM ACT OF 2023"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Everyone has the right to achieve the highest attainable level of health. This is 
the fundamental premise of primary health care which is one of the top health 
campaigns of our government. Its implementation and success greatly rely on the 
participation of barangays and communities.
In support of that, at present, we have the Barangay Health Workers also 
known as Barangay Health Volunteers who are accredited to function as such by the 
local health board in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the Department 
of Health. They are constantly on the frontline of providing maternal, newborn, and 
child health care in the neighborhood. They often assist midwives in providing birthing 
services. However, despite their essential function, they are only classified as 
"volunteers" under the Republic Act (RA) 7883 entitled, "The Barangay Health 
Workers' Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995".
On average, each volunteer is expected to work with around 20 families in their 
community. However, there are just now one or two volunteers serving an entire 
barangay due to a lack of trained individuals, particularly in certain isolated locations.


A significant reason behind this aiarming shortage of barangay health workers 
is linked to the compensation they get in comparison to the services they render. Local 
Government Units (LGUs) vary in the rates and benefits they provide to these 
community workers. The allowance ranging from Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) to Six 
Thousand Pesos (P6/000.00) is typically their only source of living, sans fixed income, 
benefits and incentives. This rate is hardly enough to make both ends meet for their 
families. The meager and inconsistent pay received by barangay health workers does 
not accord them any respect. There is also no security of tenure as they can be 
terminated capriciously at the instance of perceived adverse political leanings. Thus, 
the present system allows them to be politicized. We must put an end to this 
unscrupulous practice.
This bill, therefore, aims to revise the existing law to improve the working 
condition and compensation of our barangay health workers.
of this bill is earnestly sought.
Raffy T. Tulfo
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )
SENATE
Senate Bill No. Iboc
of f!j?
23 JAN 17 P4-47
RECEIVED BY.
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT TO IMPROVE AND TO PROMOTE QUALITY DELIVERY OF HEALTH 
SERVICES IN BARANGAYS, ENACTING THE "BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS AND SERVICES REFORM ACT OF 2023"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. — This Act Shall be known as the "Barangay Health
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Workers and Services Reform Act of2023"
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Sec 2. Statement of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure prosperity and independence
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of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate
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social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved
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quality of life for all. The State recognizes that quality healthcare services promote
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social justice in all phases of national development.
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The State further protects and promotes the right to health of the people and provides
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conditions of health empowerment, where each individual has access to information
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and services that will bring about health and well-being. Primary Health care is
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recognized as the major strategy towards health empowerment, emphasizing the need
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to provide accessible, available and affordable quality health services through
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community-based participatory strategies.


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To this end, the government and all its instrumentalities recognize the economic and
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social rights of barangay health workers to just compensation, consistent with the
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principle of equal: pay for equal work and work of equal value.
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Sec 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms
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shall be defined as follows:
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a. ) Barangay Health Workers (BHW), is a support health worker in the barangay 
unit, as defined and covered by Republic Act (RA) 7305;
b. ) Magna Carta for Pubiic Heaith Workers, as used in this Act, shall refer to RA 
7305,
c. ) Primary Heaith Care (PHC), is essential health care made universally 
accessible to individuals and families in the community and country can afford 
to maintain at every stage and at a cost that the community and country can 
afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self- 
reliance and self-determination. It forms an integral part both of the countrys 
health system, of which is the central function and main focus, and of the 
overall social and economic development of the community, characterized by 
partnership ad empowerment of the people by means acceptable to them. It is 
the first level of contact of individuals, the family and community with the 
national health system bringing health care as close as possible to where people 
live and work, and constitutes the first element of a continuing heaith care as 
close as possible to where people live and work, and constitute the first element 
of continuing health care process
d. ) Pubiic Heaith Worker (PHW), as used in this Act, shall mean all persons 
who are engaged in health and health-related work where they are employed 
in all hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers, rural health units, 
barangay health stations, clinics and other health-related establishments owned 
and operated by the Government or its political subdivisions with original 
charters and shall include medical allied health professional administrative and 
support personnel employed regardless of their employment status, as 
pursuant to Section 3 of the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.


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Sec 4. Barangay Health Center (BHC). - There shall be one Barangay Health
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Center in every barangay unit, with the following basic and essential facilities and
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provisions:
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a.) Adequate lighting and ventilation;
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b.) An adequate supply of portable water and electricity;
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c.) Floor Area of at least twenty (20) square meters;
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d.) Equipment including, but not limited to, blood pressure apparatus, dressing
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kit, over-the-counter medicines, weighing scale for infants and adults,
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thermometers, standard operating procedure manual from the Department of
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Health (DOH), glucometer, and delivery kit;
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e.) Examining Area which must be enclosed, with bed, cabinet, footstool, and
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stool;
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f.) Toilet with sink and running water; and,
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g.) Consultation Area with table, cabinet, and two chairs.
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Sec 5. Functions of the Barangay Health Center. - Each BHC shall have the
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following functions.
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a.) Delivers basic and primary care services for the community to include, but
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are not limited to, immunization, prenatal check-up, and check-up of healthy
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and ill infants;
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b.) Coordinates efforts and actions of the different members of the health team;
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c.) Keeps records of health indices, community profiles, and other data;
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d.) Serves as an area of the congregation for meetings of the health team,
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e.) Serves as training of future and present members of the health team: and
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f.) Assists and coordinates with the respective Local Government Units (LGUs)
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and appropriate offices on first aid and procedures in disaster risk reduction.


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Sec 6. Barangay Health Workers To Man Botika sa Barangay. - When available
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and offered in the community, especially in far-flung areas, the Barangay Health
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Workers shall man and operate the 'Botika sa Barangay' project or service. They shall
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likewise be given appropriate training by the Department of Health and Food and Drug
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Administration in full consultation with the relevant professional organizations and
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associations.
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Sec 7. Referral System. — The BHC shall observe and follow the referral system
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framework of Primary Health Care.
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Sec 8. Barangay Health Team Placement — The BHC shall be composed of a
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nurse, a midwife, and a BHW. The operation and functioning of the BHC shall be
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headed and supervised by a nurse.
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Each BHC shall be manned by a health team proportionate to the existing population
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in the Barangay:
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a.) Nurse There shall be at least one nurse for every barangay with a
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population not exceeding five thousand (5,000); b,) Midwife — There shall be
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at least one midwife for every barangay with a population not exceeding two
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thousand five hundred (2,500); c,) BHW - There shall be at least one BHW for
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every barangay with a population not exceeding five hundred (500).
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Sec 9. BHW Qualifications. — The following are the qualifications for the
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Barangay Health Workers:
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(a) Any person who has completed the Technical Education and Skills
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Development Authority (TESDA) BHW program or undergone training
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specific for BHW by TESDA — accredited institution: Provided, that he
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or she has passed the training assessment and obtained the equivalent
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national certification.
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(b) All BMW, regardless of accreditation or registration status, who have
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served for at least two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act must
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undergo BHW assessment by TESDA — accredited assessors and pass
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the equivalent national certification. Only those who obtained the
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equivalent national certification shall be eligible for employment.


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(c) The Local Government Selection and Promotion Board shall process the 
hiring of the Barangay Health Team personnel, pursuant to existing Civii 
Service rules, regulations, issuances, and orders on piacement and 
hiring.
(d) Ail existing BHWs who met the qualifications under Section 8 
subparagraph of this Act shaii be given preference in hiring and priority 
in piacement.
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Sec 10. BHW Duties and Responsibiiities — The foiiowing are the duties and
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responsibilities of Barangay Health Workers:
(a) Height and weight monitoring, and reporting the same to the BHC;
(b) Monitoring and follow-up cases of immunization, famiiy pianning, and 
tuberculosis compiiance to treatment and others, and reporting the same 
to the BHC;
(c) Reporting to the BHC any incidence of disease or any heaith cases in the 
community;
(d) Communicating and coordinating with the community to participate in 
BHC activities;
(e) Gathering of data about the overall status of health of the community;
(f) Administering first aid;
(g) Conducting heaith visits;
(h) Conducting of Birth Pianning for Pregnant Women;
(i) Conducting Heaith Education;
(i) Strengthening referrai systems.
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The BHW performs the foiiowing duties and responsibilities assistive to the
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Barangay Health Team:
(a) Sputum collection;
(b) Identifying people with disease and sickness;
(c) Heaith community profiiing;
(d) Psychosocial debriefing for stress and post-calamity initiatives;
(e) Strengthening the health programs of the government;


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(0 Responding in natural calamities and disasters
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Sec 11. BHW: Compensation. — The entry pay level of a BHW shall be the
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prevailing rate equivalent to Salary Grade One "SG 1"
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Sec 12. BHW Incentives and Benefits. — A BHW shall be entitled to the same
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incentives and benefits provided under the Magna Carta for Public Health workers.
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Further, they shall be covered by the existing statutory benefits such as GSIS,
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PhilHealth, and Pag-Ibig. Provided, that in addition, they shall be given burial and
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disability assistance in case of death or if the BHW is afflicted by an illness which
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results in disability. Provided, further, that a regular adjustment in monetary and other
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non-monetary incentives shall be made to help improve the living condition of
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Barangay Health Workers.
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Sec 13. Pena! Provision. — Any person who violates the provisions of this act
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shall be criminally, civilly, and administratively liable.
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Sec 14. Implementing Agencies. — Within one (1) year from the effectivity of
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this act, the TESDA and DOH, with the participation of various health union
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representatives shall formulate, finalize and launch the BHW training program,
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assessment, and national certification program.
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of
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Health, the Civil Service Commission, the different local government leagues, and
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other appropriate government agencies, with the participation of various health union
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representatives, shall formulate and provide an effective mechanism for the selection
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and hiring of BHWs.
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The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), local government units, and
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other appropriate government agencies shall allocate the necessary funds for
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compensation of the barangay health team.
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Sec 15. Transitory Provision. — Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this
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act, the TESDA, DOH, DILG, and local government units, shall allocate funds from
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their annual appropriations to immediately implement section 8 subparagraph (b) and
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section 9 of this Act.


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Sec 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from
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the effectivity of this act, the TESDA, DOH, DILG, CSC, DBM, the local government
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leagues, in coordination and participation of various health union representatives, shall
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provide the Implementing Rules and Regulations necessary to carry out the provisions
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of this Act.
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The Implementing Rules and Regulations shall be published in the Official
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Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation
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Sec 17. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be declared
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unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and
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operational.
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Sec 18. Repealing Clause. Republic Act No. 7883. Otherwise known as the
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"Barangay Health Workers Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995", is hereby repealed.
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All other laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances, rules and regulations, and parts
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thereof which are inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified
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accordingly.
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Sec 19. Effectivity. “ This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation
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in the Philippines.
Approved,