Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1819 
Introduced by:  REP. SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proposed "Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers" (BHWs) in the Philippines 
is a landmark legislative initiative aimed at providing long-overdue recognition, protection, 
and comprehensive benefits to the country's dedicated frontline community health workers.   
Barangay Health Workers have served for decades as the backbone of primary 
healthcare delivery, especially in rural and underserved areas, often working as volunteers with 
minimal or inconsistent support. This bill seeks to rectify this historical oversight by 
institutionalizing their roles and ensuring their welfare. Barangay Health Workers are integral 
to the Philippine healthcare system. They are the first point of contact for many citizens, 
bridging the gap between communities and formal health services.  
Their responsibilities are extensive, including health promotion, disseminating crucial 
health information, promoting healthy behaviors, and conducting community-based health 
campaigns. They assist in immunization and nutrition programs, monitor vulnerable 
populations, and report disease outbreaks. They also provide basic support for pregnant women 
and new mothers.  
Despite their critical contributions, BHWs have largely operated as volunteers, 
receiving inadequate compensation, if any, and lacking social protection and career 
development opportunities. This situation has led to high attrition rates, demotivation, and 
hindered the overall effectiveness of community health programs.  
The Magna Carta addresses these challenges by professionalizing BHWs, defining 
clear roles, responsibilities, and qualifications, including mandatory training and certification 
by municipal or city health boards. This will also ensure just compensation and benefits. By 
providing a standardized and dignified compensation package.  
This measure was already deliberated by both appropriate committees of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate during the 19th Congress, but failed to pass its final reading.  
Hence, the refiling of the bill with the earnest hope of its immediate passage into law. 
SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR.      
July 14, 2025
10:28 am


 
  
 
 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1819 
 
 
Introduced by:  REP. SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR. 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF BARANGAY HEALTH 
WORKERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of Barangay Health 
Workers”. 
SEC. 2.  Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to protect and promote 
the right to health of the people and to promote health consciousness among them.  It is also 
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 service 
available to all the people. 
SEC. 3.  Coverage. – This Act shall cover all BHWs, whether as volunteers or employees of 
the government, and all LGUs and national government agencies that mobilize BHWs to 
expand the delivery of primary health care services to communities, families, and individuals. 
SEC. 4.  Registration. – All BHWs shall be registered with the local health board in the city or 
municipality in which they render service.  Registered BHWs shall be given appropriate proof 
of said registration. 
 
The municipal and city health offices shall regularly update and maintain the BHW 
Registry with the assistance of the BHW Federation.  The BHW Registry shall be subject to 
the approval of the municipal or city health board.  The local health offices shall submit a copy 
of the updated and duly approved registry to the Provincial Health Office for consolidation and 
validation with the assistance of the Provincial BHW Federation, which shall also be subject 
to the approval of the Provincial Health Board.  The Provincial BHW Registry shall be posted 
in the municipal or city bulletin board and barangay health centers. 
 
The Provincial BHW Registry shall be submitted on or before of April 30 of every year 
to the Department of Health (DOH) at the regional and national levels for consolidation.  The 
DOH is hereby mandated to maintain a national registry of BHWs. 
 


 
In order to qualify for registration, a Barangay Health Worker must: 
a) Have rendered basic community health care services continuously and satisfactorily for 
at least six (6) months immediately preceding the date of the filing of application for 
registration in the barangay as recommended by the Rural Health Midwife (RHM) or 
public health nurse assigned to the barangay and by the head of the barangay health 
workers association and certified by the Sangguniang Barangay; 
b) Have completed the basic orientation and training for BHWs as prescribed by the DOH 
and conducted by an accredited government agency, or DOH-recognized academic 
institution, or (NGO); 
c) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the date of the filing of the application for 
registration; and, 
d) Be physically and mentally fit. 
It shall be the duty of the municipal and city health offices, in cooperation with the 
Provincial Health Office and the DOH, to provide BHW applicants basic orientation and 
training within six (6) months from the date of approval of their application. the maintenance 
of the health station/center, particularly in providing the necessary additional logistical 
support, supplies and services needed by BHWs. 
 
Sec. 5. Number of Barangay Health Workers. - The determination of the number of BHWs 
who can serve a barangay or a cluster thereof shall be guided by and based on, among others, 
the catchment population, the community health profile, and the need for different primary 
health care services. 
 
            The DOH, in consultation with local government units, shall determine the ideal ratio 
of BHWs with the required competencies to households and shall issue a policy on this ratio 
every five years. 
 
Sec. 6. Registration. - In order to qualify as a BHW, in addition to qualifications to be set by 
the municipal or city health board, an applicant must meet the following requirements: 
 
(a) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the date of the filing of the 
     application for registration; 
 
(b) Be physically and mentally fit; and 
 
(c) Have completed in the same year of application for registration the basic 
     orientation and training for BHWs as prescribed by the DOH. 
 
Eligible applicants shall register with the local health board in the municipality or city where 
they reside and intend to render service and shall be given appropriate proof of said 
registration. 
 
It shall be the duty of the municipal and city health offices, in cooperation with 
the provincial health offices and the DOH, to provide interested applicants as BHWs with 
basic orientation and training. 
 


 
Sec. 7. Role of the Municipal and City Local Health Boards. -In addition to their functions 
under Section 102, Title V of the Local Government Code, as amended, the municipal and    
city health boards shall prescribe the policies and guidelines and be responsible for the 
recruitment, selection, registration, certification, retention and removal of, and the resolution 
of complaints and grievances involving, BHWs in their jurisdictions. 
The decisions of the municipal/city health board with regard to the revocation 
of registration of a BHW or on the resolution of complaints and grievances of and against 
BHWs may be appealed to the provincial health board and, thereafter, to the 
Department 
of 
the 
Interior 
and 
Local 
Government 
(DILG). 
The DILG, in collaboration with the DOH, shall provide the general guidelines 
in setting up the grievance and appeal mechanism. 
 
Sec. 8. National BHW Information System. -There shall be established and maintained by the 
DOH, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology 
(DICT), a National BHW Information System, to assist the national government and local 
government units in formulating and implementing policies and programs for the 
organization and development of the cadre of BHWs. 
 
           The Information System shall be the sole source of real-time data and information on 
BHWs nationwide. It shall contain the list of all BHWs at the barangay, municipal, city and 
provincial levels, their socio-demographic profiles, qualifications, areas of assignment, and 
other information that the DOH may deem necessary. The municipal and city health boards 
shall be responsible for registering and continuously updating the records of BHWs in their 
jurisdictions. 
 
  
The provincial health boards, with the assistance of the DOH, shall provide training to 
municipal and city health boards within the province on the use of the Information System 
and ensure that the local health boards regularly submit accurate data and information on 
their BHWs. 
 
Sec. 9. Certification of BHWs. -To ensure the health and welfare of the community and 
further professionalize the cadre of BHWs in rendering primary healthcare services, a duly 
registered BHW shall undergo certification by the municipal/city health board. 
 
  
The DOH, in consultation with the Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Civil Service 
Commission (CSC), shall promulgate the policies, standards and guidelines for the 
certification of competency of BHWs. 
 
To qualify for certification, a registered BHW must; 
(a) Have completed in the locality at least two (2) years of continuous service; 
(b) Have completed the training on the roles, duties, and responsibilities of a 
BHW, as prescribed by the DOH; 
(c) Have been evaluated to have provided satisfactory performance by the health care 
professional supervising the concerned BHW immediately prior to the filing 
of application for certification; and 
(d) Have completed the courses of the certification component of the Education 
and Training Program, provided in Section 11 of this Act. 


The municipal and city health boards shall act on the applications for certification of 
BHWs not later than thirty (30) days from the date of application and shall issue the 
certificate of competency to qualified BHWs upon inspection, verification, or testing of their 
conformance to policies, standards and guidelines issued by the DOH. 
 
It shall be the duty of the municipal and city LCDs, in cooperation with the provincial 
government and the DOH, to provide the applicant BHWs the necessary support and  
opportunities for certification. 
 
Sec. 10. Education and Training Program for BHWs. -The DOH and the TESDA, in 
collaboration with the CSC, the CHED, relevant government agencies, local government 
units, education institutions, and stakeholders, shall develop and institutionalize a continuing 
competency-based education and training curriculum for all BHWs. The curriculum shall 
train the BHWs as primary health care service provider, health educator, community 
organizer, and record keeper. It shall prescribe the courses for the certification component 
and the courses for continuing health education and capacity-building for all BHWs. 
 
  
 The DOH and TESDA shall complement the competency-based education and 
training curriculum by making available web-based and mobile applications for purposes of: 
 
  
(a) Providing training materials to enhance the knowledge and skills of BHWs; 
 
  
(b) Offering forums for BHWs to communicate, share experiences and seek 
  
      advice from peers and health professionals; 
 
  
(c) Disseminating new policies, programs, and guidelines pertaining to their 
  
      roles and responsibilities; 
 
  
(d) Facilitating reporting and feedback mechanisms to improve service delivery 
  
      and address challenges faced in the field; and 
 
  
(e) Offering resources for personal and professional development, including 
  
      health and wellness programs. 
 
Sec. 11. Inclusion of the BHW Positions in the Government Planilla. - The Department of 
Budget and Management (DBM), in consultation with the CSC, the DOH and LGUs, shall 
establish the position classification and the corresponding salary grades for BHWs in the 
Index of Occupational Standards. Municipalities and cities may employ BHWs in their 
respective LGUs. 
 
Sec. 12. Retention and Continuous Service of BHWs. - Registered and certified BHW shall 
continue to perform their roles, duties, and responsibilities except due to the withdrawal of an 
individual as a BHW or removal for cause by the municipal or city health board after due 
process. The continuity of services of BHWs, including issues on the revocation of the 
 
registration of a BHW, or the removal of a BHW from the cadre of BHWs, shall 
follow the policies and guidelines promulgated by the DILG and the DOH. 
 
 


 
 
Sec. 13. Incentives and Benefits of BHWs. - (a) In recognition of the time, services, and 
resources they contribute, volunteer registered and certified BHWs shall receive, or be 
provided with, the following: 
 
i. Monthly Honoraria. - A monthly honorarium of not less than Three thousand pesos 
(P3,000.00) for registered BHWs and not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) 
for certified BHWs: Provided, That no diminution of monthly 
honoraria can be made on BHWs already receiving more than the herein prescribed 
minimum amounts: Provided, further. That the DOH, in coordination with the DILG 
the DBM, shall review and adjust the minimum honoraria every three years; 
 
ii. Transportation Allowance/Expense Reimbursements. - Registered and certified   
BHWs shall be provided by the barangay with transportation allowance or entitlement 
to reimbursement of actual transportation expense for the performance of their 
functions, as may be authorized by law or regulation: Provided, That the barangay 
may, instead, provide applicable forms of transportation to enable the BHWs 
provide the needed primary health care service: Provided, further, That the 
municipality or city, through their health offices, may shoulder such allowance or 
expense: Provided, finally. That official travels, such as seminars, conferences and 
transport of patients outside of the barangay or locality, shall be shouldered by the 
barangay, municipality, city or province that authorized such official travel and shall 
not be deducted from the honoraria of the BHWs; 
 
iii. Subsistence Allowance. -The concerned municipality or city shall provide 
BHWs who render service in other barangays where they are not residents and 
considered as unserved or underserved areas, to make their services available at any 
and all times, with a subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals they take during 
their duty, which shall be computed following prevailing circumstances. In no case 
such subsistence allowance be less than One hundred pesos (PIOO.OO) per day; 
 
iv. Hazard Allowance. - BHWs who are exposed to situations, conditions, or 
factors in the work environment or place where foreseeable but unavoidable danger 
or risks exist which adversely endanger their health or life and/or increase the risk of 
producing adverse effects on their person in the exercise of their duties, including 
assignment to communities in or recovering from situation of armed conflict, to be 
validated by the proper authorities, shall be paid a hazard allowance by the 
municipality or city concerned in an amount to be determined by its local health board 
and the local peace and order council unit concerned, which in no case shall be less 
than One thousand pesos per month, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations; 
 
v. Insurance Coverage. - Insurance coverage and benefit packages from the 
Government Service Insurance System, suited to their needs and unique 
circumstances, which shall be borne by the municipality or city concerned. For this 
purpose, the GSIS shall design such appropriate insurance packages; 
 
vi. Heath Emergency Allowance During Public Health Emergency. - The Health 
Emergency Allowance and other benefits prescribed in Republic Act No. 11712, on 
the conditions that the volunteer BHWs are part of the National BHW Information 
System and are assigned in health facilities and barangay health emergency response 


teams during public health emergencies. The national government shall provide funds 
for the payment of the HEA and other benefits mandated under R. A. No. 11712; 
 
vii.  Cash Gift. - A Cash Gift not less than the minimum monthly honoraria to 
be given every December; 
 
viii. One-time Dedicated Service Recognition Incentive. - A BHW who 
withdraws as a registered or certified BHW, but had continuously and satisfactorily 
served for at least fifteen (15) years, shall be entitled to a one-time incentive of not 
less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00), in recognition of their loyalty, dedication 
and service, which shall be borne by the municipality or city concerned. The national 
and provincial government shall assist in case of non-availability of funds from the 
municipality or component city concerned; 
 
ix. Education and Career Advancement — The DOH, in coordination with the 
Department of Education, CHED, TESDA, CSC, other concerned national 
government agencies, non-government organizations, and LGUs, shall provide 
information on, and opportunities for, education and career advancement for BHWs, 
such as: 
    
(1) Educational programs that credit the years of primary health care service 
of the BHW and the number of training hours gained during attendance to 
courses covered by the Education and Training Program under Section 11 of 
this Act towards higher education completion in institutions with step-ladder 
curricula, as provided under Republic Act No. 10968, otherwise known as the 
"PQF Act," and Republic Act No. 10647, otherwise known as the "Ladderized 
Education Act of 2014," thus allowing them to upgrade their skills and 
knowledge for community work or to pursue further training as health care 
professionals; 
 
(2) Continuing education, study and exposure tours, field immersion, and 
 scholarship and financial grants, among others;  
 
(3) Scholarship grant or financial assistance to be granted to one (1) child of a 
 BHW who will not be able to take advantage of the programs described in     
paragraphs (1) and (2) hereof; and 
 
(4) Special training programs, such as traditional medicine, disaster 
preparedness and other programs that address emergent community health 
problems and issues; 
 
x. Free Legal Services. - Legal representation and consultation services shall be 
immediately provided by the Public Attorney's Office to a BHW in cases of coercion. 
interference, and in other civil and criminal cases filed by or against the BHW arising 
out of or in connection with the performance of their duties as such; and 
 
xi. Preferential Access to Government Livelihood Programs. - Government 
agencies providing livelihood programs shall provide organized BHWs preferential 
access to loan services. Provided, That in the provision of the Monthly Honoraria and 
the Cash Gift, and in consideration of the financial assistance of the national 
government to third, fourth and fifth class municipalities, provided under Section 15 


of this Act, the provinces, in consultation with component cities, municipalities and 
barangays within their jurisdiction, shall determine the actual amount or percentage 
share of the amount that each and every LGU will give to BHWs: Provided, further. 
That nothing herein limits the barangays, or the municipality, or the city, or the 
province, from fully shouldering the provision of the Monthly Honoraria and the Cash 
Gift: Provided, furthermore. That nothing herein prevents the barangay, municipality, 
city, and province from providing additional monetary and non-monetary benefits to 
BHWs to supplement those given by another concerned LGU within the province: 
Provided, finally. That these honoraria shall be given starting January of the ensuing 
fiscal year unless the local government unit/s, singly or collectively, immediately 
provide the needed funding. 
 
Certified BHWs shall be granted sub-professional eligibility if they have rendered at 
least five (5) years of continuous service as such: Provided, That should a BHW become a 
regular employee of the government, the total numbers of years served as such shall be 
credited to the BHW's service in the computation of retirement benefits. The emoluments, 
incentives, benefits, honoraria, allowances and reimbursements of BHWs employed by the 
municipality, city, province, or national government agencies on a regular, contractual, casual 
or job order basis shall be governed by laws applicable to the civil service and the policies 
issued by the Civil Service Commission, the Office of the President, the Department of 
Budget and Management, and the LGU under which they are employed. 
 
Sec. 14. BHW Deployment Subsidy to Low-Income Municipalities. -There is hereby mandated  
a BHW Deployment Subsidy to Low-Income Municipalities in order to provide financial 
assistance to third, fourth, and fifth-class municipalities and enable them to deploy a 
sufficient number of volunteer BHWs in their communities, particularly to unserved or 
underserved areas in their jurisdictions, and in providing incentives to dedicated volunteer 
BHWs. Priority shall be given to municipalities with no or less capacity to give regular and 
adequate monthly honoraria and other incentives to its BHWs, as determined by the DOH 
and the DILG. 
 
Sec. 15. Discrimination Prohibited. - Discrimination against any BHW by reason of gender, 
civil status, creed, religious or political beliefs and ethnic groupings in the exercise of their 
functions and responsibilities is hereby prohibited. 
 
Sec. 16. Prohibition on Participation in Political Activities. -To maintain their integrity and 
impartiality, and eliminate the possibility of conflicts with their catchment households, 
BHWs are prohibited from participating in partisan political activities. Any BHW who files 
an application as a candidate in any political position is hereby deemed removed from the list 
of registered BHWs or resigned from government service, as the case may be. Participation in 
political activities shall serve as basis of the local health board to remove BHWs in the list of 
registered BHWs. 
 
Sec. 17. Associations and Federations of BHWs. - There shall be organized associations of 
BHWs at the municipal and city levels and federations at the provincial, regional, sub-
national and national levels. BHW associations of highly urbanized cities that are 
independent from provinces where they are located, and LGUs in the National Capital 
Region, shall directly become members of regional and sub-national federations and the 
national federation. 
 
These associations and federations shall serve as the venues in order to ventilate issues and 


formulate and communicate policy proposals concerning BHWs, particularly on their roles 
and duties as the frontliners, as well as their welfare and well-being, in supporting the 
delivery of primary health care services in the community.  The municipal and city 
associations and the provincial, regional, and sub-national federations shall elect their 
respective president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and other officers as they may deem 
necessary. 
 
The national federation shall elect a board of directors headed by a chairperson and a set of 
national officers headed by a national president, as prescribed in their constitution and by-
laws. A secretary-general shall be chosen from among the national federation members to 
manage the day-to-day operations and activities of the federation. The board of directors may 
create such other positions as may be necessary for the management of the affairs of the 
national federation. 
 
Sec. 18. Consultation with Local Health Boards. - The different local health boards shall 
consult the associations and federations under their jurisdictions on, among others, the roles 
and responsibilities of BHWs for the effective delivery of primary health care services. 
 
Sec. 19. Observance of BHW Day. - Every barangay shall commemorate BHW Day during 
April 7 of every year in recognition of the service of BHWs, their heroic services in times of 
crisis, and their indispensable role in promoting health and wellness among the citizenry. 
The DOH, in cooperation with the DILG and all LGUs, shall hold simple ceremonies or 
activities to highlight the indispensable role of BHWs in nation-building. 
 
Sec. 20. Penalty Clause. - Any local government official who violates any provision of this   
Act shall be administratively and criminally charged in accordance with law. 
 
Sec. 21. Annual Accomplishment Reports. -The DOH and the DILG shall submit to the Office 
of the President, the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives an annual 
report on the accomplishments and challenges with regard the implementation of this Act. 
 
Sec. 22. Appropriations. — The amounts necessary for the implementation of this Act shall 
be charged against the funds of LGUs and the appropriations of the DOH. The amount 
necessary for the initial implementation of the BHW Deployment Subsidy to Low-Income 
Municipalities shall be charged against the current appropriations of the DOH and, thereafter, 
shall be included in the annual general appropriations act. 
 
Sec. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The DOH and the DILG shall, in consultation 
with local government units, the national federation of BHWs, the CSC, the DBM, the 
TESDA, the CHED, the GSIS, other concerned government agencies, non-government 
organizations, and academic and training institutions, promulgate the rules and regulations to 
implement this Act not later than one hundred eighty (180) days from the start of the 
effectivity of this Act. 
 
Sec. 24. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.  
 
Sec. 25. 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, executive orders, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 


 
Sec. 26. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,