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Republic of the Philippines ~ RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2

Batasan Hills, Quezon City

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._1589 _

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ

and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN
BARANGAYS, PROVIDING FOR THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES,
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The national health policy of our country is clearly articulated in Article XIli,
Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution: “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." By virtue of Section 17 of Title | of the 1991 Local Government Code,
the delivery of basic services and facilities such as health and social welfare services
were devolved to the local government units down to the barangay level. Thus, the
barangay health centers are maintained with the help of barangay health workers who
voluntarily render primary health care services to the community.

Barangay Health Workers serve as the frontliners in the barangay in providing
basic health services. They play a vital role in accomplishing the primary health care

approach towards health empowerment by providing accessible and acceptable
health services in the barangay level.

DATE July 7, 2022

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Despite their essential role and function, they are only considered as volunteers
in the community. As such, they are only entitled to meager incentives and benefits.
Moreover, they are not given the security of tenure that befits the level of commitment
necessitated by the role that BHWs play.

To address the existing policy shortfall, and to give due recognition to the role
and services of BHWs in the delivery of our primary health care services in the
community, this measure proposes to grant BHWs the compensation and benefits
package, including security of tenure, of public health workers. This bill also mandates
the Department of Health (DOH) to determine and recommend the number of needed
BHWs in each barangay.

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

Rep. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
Representative, Mingog Sinirangan

Rep. JUDEA. ACIDRE
Representative, Tingog Sinirangan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. _ 1589

ee

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ

and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

ee

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN
BARANGAYS, PROVIDING FOR THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES,
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, 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 2022."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - \tis hereby declared the policy of the State
to protect and promote the right to health of the people by providing the conditions of
health empowerment, where each individual has adequate access to information and
services that will bring about health and well-being, and by delivering effective health
care programs and services based on the needs of the communities. Towards this
end, the State recognizes that the Primary Health Care Approach is an effective
strategy towards realizing health empowerment and effective health care programs
and services through community-based participatory strategies.

The State recognizes the indispensable role of Barangay Health Workers as
the front liners in the Primary Health Care Approach; and the importance of
strengthening and  systematizing their services, and of providing them just


compensation, consistent with the principle of equal pay for equal work and work of
equal value.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a.) Barangay Health Worker (BHW) shall refer to a person who is appointed to
act as a health worker in a barangay unit in accordance with Section 4
hereof;

b.) Magna Carta for Public Health Workers shall refer to Republic Act No. 7305;
and

¢.) Public Health Worker (PHW) shall be as defined in Section 3 of the Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers as referring to all persons who are engaged
in health and health-related work, all persons 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.

Section 4. Appointment and Qualifications. - There shall be appointed in
each barangay such number of BHWs as the Department of Health (DOH) shall
determine and recommend in consideration of the number of households in a
barangay; Provided, That the total number of BHWs per barangay shall not be less
than three (3), nor more than one percent (1 %) of the barangay’s total population.

In accordance with the recommendation of the DOH as to the needed number
of BHWs, the city or municipal mayor shall appoint BHWs in each barangay in the city
or municipality on the strength of their accreditation by the local health board;
Provided, That the local health board shall only issue accreditation to the following:

a.) Aperson who has completed the BHW training program of the DOH, or the

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), or
undergone a training specific for BHW by a TESDA-accredited or DOH-
accredited institution, and has passed the BHW training assessment, and
obtained the certification therefor; and

b.) All active barangay health workers at the time of the effectivity of this Act,


regardless of accreditation or training status, who have previously served
for at least one (1) year; Provided, That they undergo and pass the BHW
assessment by DOH/TESDA-accredited assessors and obtained the
equivalent certification.

‘All active and existing barangay health workers accredited by the local health
board under Republic Act No. 7883 shall be given preference in the appointment of
BHWs pursuant to this Act.

Section 5. Duties and Responsibilities. - The BHWs shall perform in their
respective barangays the followings duties and responsibilities:

a.) Those which the DOH, or the city, municipal or barangay sanggunian shall
provide by ordinance, subject to the guidelines to be promulgated jointly by
the DOH and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in
connection with the delivery of basic and primary health care services, the
implementation of family planning, feeding and nutrition, and immunization
programs, disaster response and mitigation, sanitation programs, and anti-
drug abuse rehabilitation and information campaigns, and the establishment
of national or local health management information systems;

b.) Provide assistance to physicians, dentists, nurses, nutritionists, or midwives
who are employed, stationed, or are otherwise providing services at the
barangay health center, daycare center or birthing center;

c.) Administer first-aid, and respond in natural calamities and disaster; and

d.) Gather data about the health profile of the barangay, incidence of
communicable or chronic diseases, environmental or health hazards in the
barangay, and other public health-relevant event or information, and report
the same to the local health board.

Section 6. Compensation and Benefits. — The entry pay level of a BHW
shall be the prevailing rate equivalent to Salary Grade One (SG 1).

BHWs shall also be entitled to the following standards, incentives, and benefits
provided for Public Health Workers under the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers:


a)
b)
c)
a.)
e)
f)
9.)
h)
i)
i)
k)
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Normal hours of work;
Overtime pay for overtime work;
Rest day;

Night-shift differential;
Hazard allowance;
Subsistence allowance;
Longevity pay;

Free medical examination;
Compensation for injuries;
Leave benefits;
Retirement pay; and

Right to self-organization.

Further, BHWs shall be covered by the existing statutory benefits such as GSIS,
PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, as such, the total number of years served as barangay
health worker shall be credited to his/her service in computing retirement benefits.
BHWs shall be entitled to the following additional benefits:

a.) Training, Education and Career Enrichment Programs.— The DOH, in
coordination with the DILG, other government departments, agencies and non-
government organizations, shall provide opportunities for the following:

1)

2)

3.)

Educational programs which shall recognize years of primary health care
service as credits to higher education in institutions with stepladder
curricula that will entitle BHWs to upgrade their skills and knowledge for
community work or to pursue further training as midwives, pharmacists,
nurses or doctors;

Continuing education, study and exposure tours, training, grants, field
immersion, scholarships, etc.; and

Special training programs such as those on traditional medicine, disaster
response and preparedness, and other programs that address emergent
community health problems and issues.

b.) Free Legal Services.— Legal representation and consultation services for
barangay health workers shall be immediately provided by the Public Attorneys’
Office in cases of coercion, interference, and in other civil and criminal cases


filed by or against barangay health workers arising out of or in connection with
the performance of their duties as such.

c.) Preferential Access to Loans.— The DOH in coordination with other concerned
government agencies shall provide a mechanism for access to loan services
by organized barangay health workers. The agencies providing loan services
will set aside one percent (1%) of their loanable funds for organized barangay
health worker groups that have community-based income generating projects
in support of health programs or activities.

d.) Civil Service Eligibility A second grade eligibility shall be granted to barangay
health workers who have rendered five (5) years continuous service.

Section 7. Security of Tenure. — All duly appointed BHWs shall not be
terminated except for cause provided under existing civil service rules and regulations,
and only after notice and hearing; Provided, That if a BHWis found by the Civil Service
Commission to be unjustly dismissed from work, he/she shall be entitled to
reinstatement without loss of seniority rights and to his/her back wages with twelve
percent (12%) interest computed from the time his/her compensation was withheld
from his/her up to time of reinstatement.

Section 8. Appropriations. - The amount: of the grant of compensation herein
authorized shall be chargeable to the annual General Appropriations Act under the
budget of the Department of Health.

Section 9. Implementing Agencies. — Within one (1) year from the effectivity
of this Act, the DOH, DILG, TESDA and local government units shall immediately
appropriate funds necessary for the full implementation of this Act.

Within the same period, the DOH, DILG, and TESDA shall formulate, launch,
and institutionalize the BHW training program, assessment, and national certification
program.

Section 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months
from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH and DILG, in consultation with the local
government units, and existing health workers union and barangay health workers


organizations, shall provide the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the
provisions of this Act.

Section 11. Non-diminution of benefits. — Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to eliminate or in any may diminish entitlements, or other benefits being
provided to or enjoyed by BHWs under Republic Act No. 7883 or other laws and
issuances.

Section 12. Repealing Clause. —Republic Act No. 7883 otherwise known as
the" Barangay Health Workers Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995", is hereby
repealed. All other 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 13. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is subsequently
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain
in full force and effect.

Section 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the

Philippines.

Approved,