Senate passes measure on barangay health workers

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THE Senate passed on third and final reading the Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) which was first filed during the 10th Congress in 1995.

Senate deputy majority leader Joseph Victor Ejercito, principal author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2838, said the proposed measure will “finally fulfill the promise of better recognition and support to BHWs.”

Nineteen senators approved the proposed measure, with zero negative votes, and no abstentions.

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“The journey of this bill has been very challenging. And yet, here we are today, passing it on third and final reading. The last steps of passing this bill into law are upon the horizon,” Ejercito said during Monday’s plenary session.

Ejercito said passage of the proposed measure was long overdue since BHWs have been part of the country’s healthcare system and serve as front liners in medical situations.

The bill seeks to institutionalize fair and standardized compensation for BHWs, ensuring a minimum monthly honorarium of P3,000 for registered BHWs and at least P5,000 for certified BHWs along with subsistence and travel allowances. It also mandates the provision of subsidies from the national government to fund BHW compensation, especially those in 3rd and 5th class municipalities.

“Provided further, that the DOH, in coordination with the DILG and DBM, shall review and adjust the minimum honoraria every three years,” the bill said, adding they will also be provided with subsistence allowance of not less than P100 a day.

BHWs who are exposed to “foreseeable but unavoidable danger or risks to their health or life, shall be paid hazard allowance by the concerned city or municipality which will be determined by the respective health board and the local peace and order council “which shall in no case be less than P1,000 per month, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.”

Under the measure, they will also be covered with insurance packages from the Government Service Insurance System.

“The BHW shall be entitled to a cash gift not less than the minimum monthly honoraria to be given every December,” the bill said.

The Department of Budget and Management, in consultation with the Civil Service Commission, the DOH and local government units, shall establish the position classification and corresponding salary grades for BHWs in the Index of Occupational Standards, the bill provided.

Ejercito thanked the DOH, BHW organizations, and other stakeholders for sharing their insights to help refine the proposed measure.

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