REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8354

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides:

“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 affordable cost.”

In faithful observance of the abovementioned constitutional mandate, Section 17, Title I of
R.A. 7160 provides that among the services devolved to local government units is the
administration of health and social services. Barangays then, are responsible for the efficient and
effective service delivery of barangay health and daycare centers. These centers are aided by
barangay health workers who have volunteered to provide primary healthcare services to the
community,

What is unfortunate, however, is the fact that while barangay health workers endeavor as
front-liners in rendering healthcare services to the community, there exists no mechanism to ensure
that all barangays are able to avail of the services rendered by these barangay health workers, thus
this proposal.

This proposed measure shall provide that at least 1 barangay health worker in every
barangay throughout the country after proper accreditation with the local health board. Furthermore,
barangay health workers will be entitled to allowances and other benefits accorded to appointed
barangay officials. More importantly, our faithful barangay health workers will be accorded with
security of tenure.

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

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fary/C. Alejano



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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session
8354

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN EVERY
BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 7160, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, FURTHER EXPANDING
THE BENEFITS OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and 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 2018.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.—Pursuant to Article XIII, Section 11 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 287 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government
Code of 1991 as amended, shall be further amended to read as follows:


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“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 395 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 1995, SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR
CITY MAYOR OF THE AREA WHERE SUCH BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER
WILL BE APPOINTED IS LOCATED. A BARANGAY HEALTH WORKER
SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 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 the

Philippines, 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
tagamapayapa, 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 than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00)
per month for the punong barangay and six hundred pesos (P600.00) 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

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HEALTH WORKERS: Provided, however that the annual appropriations for personal
services shall be subject to the 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 THER INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS FOR BARANGAY
OFFICIALS AS MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW SUCH AS REPUBLIC ACT NO.
6492. AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS 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, Repealing Clause,—All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause.—If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other parts not otherwise affected shall remain in full effect and force.

SEC. 10. Effectivity.—This Act shall take effect immediately after its complete publication
in at least two newspapers of general publication.

Approved,