Support for Barangay Workers Act of 2025

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 14 P4:04 SENATE RECEIVED. Senate Bill No. - Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY UNIT THROUGH SUPPORT FOR BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND BARANGAY VOLUNTEER WORKERS, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The development of the country lies with the development of its people. No government policy or program, no matter how well-crafted can be called a success unless it would be able to reach each and every one of its constituents, up to the last individual in the barangay. The barangay is the basic unit of government, the closest to its constituents and the first line of government service people turn to. The Local Government Code of 1991 recognizes the important role of the barangay as it states that: "As the basic political unit, the barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects and activities in the community, as a forum wherein the collective views of people may be expressed, crystalized, and considered and where disputes may be amicably settled." Empowering the barangay is the key to ensuring that government policies being pursued for the development and progress of the country are properly implemented. It is through the barangay that development programs can be delivered and effectively reach each and every Filipino, even those in the most remote areas of the country. This bill seeks to strengthen the barangay by providing its barangay tanods and barangay health workers capacity building programs and financial empowerment. This would ensure that the barangay workers are fully capable of addressing the needs of their constituents and are able to implement the government policies for the advancement of the Filipino people. Strengthening barangay governance through the empowerment of its barangay tanods barangay health workers is a vital key that would not only help in effectively delivering quality service to every individual, but would also encourage active people participation in governance. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI

Effree of 1. TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 JUL 14 P4:04 SENATE RECEIVES Senate Bill No. _ Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY UNIT THROUGH SUPPORT FOR BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND BARANGAY VOLUNTEER WORKERS, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, 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 "Support for Barangay

Workers Act of 2025."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

empower and strengthen our barangay officials and barangay volunteer workers in order to sufficiently provide front line government services to the Filipino people in the barangay 6 level. The State acknowledges the need to provide for the financial burden of rendering 7 service and the need to properly compensate and capacitate barangay officials and 8 volunteers.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall

mean: a) Barangay Health Worker (BHW) - a person who has undergone training programs under any accredited government or non-government organization and who voluntarily renders primary health care services in the community after having been accredited to function as such by the local health board in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Health (DOH); and b) Barangay Tanod - all duly appointed members of the barangay tanod brigades, which shall not be more than twenty (20) in each barangay as prescribed by Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

SEC. 4. HONORARIUM OF BHWS AND BARANGAY TANODS. - In order to

ease the financial burden on our barangay officials and volunteers, the following benefits 3 shall be given by the National Government for services rendered by the following barangay workers: a) One (1) BMW in each barangay shall receive a monthly honorarium of not less than Five Hundred pesos (Php 500) from the DOH b) At least twenty (20) tanods each barangay, shall receive a monthly honorarium of not less than Five Hundred pesos (Php 500) from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The barangays may choose to give an additional honorarium to the aforementioned volunteers: Provided, That such additional honorarium shall be charged 12 against the local budgets of each barangay: Provided further, That barangays shall ensure that all BHWs receive the same honorarium.

SEC. 5. CAPACITY BUILDING FOR BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND

VOLUNTEER WORKERS. - In addition to financial benefits, the National Government shall provide the following to barangay officials and volunteer workers: a) Training and workshops on how to effectively exercise their duty provided by 18 the DILG for tanods and DOH for BHWs, and any other such training fit for barangay officials and volunteer workers. b) Philhealth coverage for BHWs, which shall include medical examination and treatment in government hospitals, and fully subsidized by the National Government through the DOH: Provided, That indigent barangay volunteers shall be covered through the full national government subsidy scheme. c) Free legal services from government lawyers of the Public Attorney's Office for cases arising from acts committed in the performance of duty: Provided, That such legal services shall continue, even after the expiration of the term of the barangay volunteer, until its final disposition.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The DILG, in

consultation with the National Liga ng mga Barangay and DOH, shall issue the rules and regulations to implement this Act within ninety (90) days after its approval.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or

other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,