Barangay Health Workers Act of 2025

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -7 A0:53 SENATE Senate Bill No. _ Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri AN ACT MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN EVERY BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, FURTHER EXPANDING THE BENEFITS OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The barangay is the foundational unit of Philippine governance; the first port of call for every Filipino citizen. It must, as such, provide optimal basic services that will address the everyday concerns of the people- from concerns about peace and order, to concerns about sanitation and waste management, to concerns about medical and dental care. Affordable and accessible health care is an especially glaring concern, particularly in far-flung areas that are yet to have easy access to hospitals. Even in urban areas, steep prices often bar underprivileged sectors from seeking necessary medical attention. There is a need, then, to improve our barangay-leve health care system, in order for our people to receive immediate medical attention through an accessible and affordable avenue. Health services are a mandated function of the barangay, as per Section 17 of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which states that the barangay shall provide "health and social welfare services which include maintenance of barangay health center and day-care center." But while RA 7160 mandates that the barangay provide health services, it does not mandate the appointment of full-time health workers to ably deliver said services. ave is bi sets ate ness that owersicit ed feltime heate very kera, there guaranteeing that the barangay fulfills its obligation to provide health services. With the designation of barangay health workers, citizens in all corners of the nation will be able to enjoy their right to accessible, affordable, and quality health care. In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is urgently sought. JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI C

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -7 AS :53 SENATE Senate Bill No. 148 Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri AN ACT MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS IN EVERY BARANGAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, 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

2 Workers Act of 2025."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Section 11, Article XIII of the

4 1987 Philippine Constitution, the State hereby declares the policy of according utmost 5 importance to the health needs of the nation and shall henceforth endeavor to make 6 essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable 7 cost. Toward this end, the State shall ensure that accessible and quality health services 8 are extended to each individual through the barangay health workers as the primary 9 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 387 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local

2 Government Code of 1991, as amended, shall be further amended to read as follows: "Section 387. Chief Officials and Officers. - (a) There shall be in each barangay a 4 Punong Barangay, seven (7) Sangguniang Barangay members, the Sangguniang 5 Kabataan chairman, a barangay secretary, (and) a barangay treasurer, AND AT LEAST 6 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 359 and 396 of the

10 same Act to be denominated as Section 395-A, which shall read as follows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

SEC. 6. Section 393, paragraphs (a) and (b) of the Local Government Code of

1991, 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 tagapamayapa, 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 that One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) 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 HEALTH WORKERS: Provided, however, That the annual appropriations for personal services shall be subject to 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 OTHER INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS FOR BARANGAY OFFICIALS AS MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW SUCH AS REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6942 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7883, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS BENEFITS 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. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is

declared unconstitutional on invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations

and administrative regulations or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are here by repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its

publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation. Approved,