IN RECOGNITION of the heroic role of the barangay health workers (BHWs) as frontliners in bringing primary health care to the communities, the Congress enacted Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known as the Barangay Health Workers Benefits and Incentives Act” in 1995. The law also paved the way in boosting the local health system and introduced developmental and support programs for our BHWs.
However, the noble provisions of the law have not been realized due to reported ineffective support mechanisms and insufficient funds of the local government units (LGUS) as the local health budget would depend on the priorities given by each LGU to health services and facilities. These challenges have caused the demoralization of our BHWs and the deplorable state of barangay health programs and services. Fourteen years after the passage of RA No. 7883, the Department of Health (DOH) issued Department Memorandum No. 2009-0302 which reiterated the guidelines and support of the DOH for the development of BHWs. Sadly, more than a decade has passed, our BHWs remain to face the same concerns, not to mention the failure of the government to provide the mandatory benefits and incentives given to them by law.
To address these challenges, House Bill No. 3985 was filed by Representative Angelica Natasha A. Co while Senator Sonny Angara filed Senate Bill No. 2353 otherwise known as “Barangay Health and Wellness Reform Act of 2021”, which seeks to institutionalize and strengthen primary health care at the barangay level by establishing the necessary support mechanisms, by upgrading the incentives and benefits of our BHW, providing them the security of tenure, and ensuring the necessary funds for its effective implementation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the important role of our health workers including the more than 200,000 BHWs as they continue to serve the community despite the risks of contracting the COVID-19. In order to fully recognize and sincerely appreciate their services to the country.
Proposed Major Amendments of RA 7883:
MONTHLY HONORARIA, HAZARD & SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES
A monthly honoraria of not less than three thousand pesos (P3,000.00) and hazard allowance in an amount to be determined by the local health board of the LGU concerned but in no case less than one thousand pesos (P1,000.00) per month. BHWs shall be entitled to subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals they take in the course of their duty, which shall not be less than one hundred pesos (P100.00) per day, to be computed in accordance with prevailing circumstances as determined by the LGU concerned.
TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS
BHWs shall be entitled to actual travelling reimbursements as may be authorized by law, and subject to the availability of funds; Provided, that official travels like seminars, conferences and transport of patients outside of the barangay, shall be shouldered by the barangay concerned and and shall not be deducted from the travel allowance of the BHWs. BHWs shall be entitled to ten percent (10%) discount in transportation fare during their incumbency.
CASH GIFTS
BHWs are entitled to cash gifts not less than the minimum monthly honoraria to be given every December from the General Fund of the Barangay or from such funds appropriated by the national government for the purpose.
PREFERENTIAL ACCESS TO LOANS
The DOH in coordination with other concerned government agencies shall provide, within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act, 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 BHW groups that have community based income generating projects in support of health programs or activities.
GSIS MEMBERSHIP
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) shall establish a social insurance program to provide life insurance and social protection to BHWs. It shall be mandatory for barangay governments to pay the monthly contributions to life insurance, retirement, and social protection coverage of their respective BHWs. Barangay governments shall include in its annual appropriations the amounts necessary for its share of contributions.
SICK, VACATION AND MATERNITY OR PATERNITY LEAVES
BHWs shall be entitled to such leaves provided that the BHWs shall continue to receive their monthly honoraria, hazard, travel and subsistence allowances while on leave, for such period similar to existing laws and practices.
CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBILITY
A first grade Civil Service Eligibility which shall be granted to BHWs who have rendered five (5) years of service. Provided that should the barangay health worker become a regular employee of the government, the total number of years served as barangay health worker shall be accredited to his or her service in computing retirement benefits.
TRAINING, EDUCATION AND CAREER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Educational programs which shall recognize years of primary health care service as credits to higher education in institutions with stepladder curricular that will entitle barangay health workers 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.; Scholarship benefits in the form of tuition fees in state colleges, to be granted to one child of every barangay health worker who will not be able to take advantage of the above programs; and Special training programs such as those on traditional medicine, disaster preparedness and other programs that address emergent community health problems and issues.
SECURITY OF TENURE
The services of accredited BHWs shall not be terminated even after the term of the Punong Barangay and Sangguniang Barangay Members, except for cause as provided by law and after due process. Provided that if a BHW, upon appeal, is found by the Civil Service Commission to be unjustly dismissed from service, he or she shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss of benefits and incentives from the time of his or her termination up to the time of his or her reinstatement. The CSC shall resolve termination cases against BHWs judiciously not later than ninety (90) days from the receipt of a complaint.