PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has reintroduced his bill which seeks to mandate the appointment of at least two barangay health workers (BHWs) in every barangay and will entitle them to standard salaries and additional incentives.

“Ang mga Barangay Health Workers ang nasa frontline ng ating hangarin na panatilihing malusog at walang sakit ang ating mga kababayan,” said Go.

“Napapanahon na din na sila naman ang ating alagaan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay sa kanila ng tamang suporta at mga benepisyo upang maiangat natin ang kanilang kabuhayan,” he added.

The Barangay Health Workers Compensation and Incentives Bill, if passed into law, will entitle BHWs to a monthly honorarium of PhP3,000. They will also be entitled to other allowances, benefits and privileges and security of tenure.

“Dapat gawing mandatory ang posisyon ng mga barangay health workers at ayusin ang kanilang mga benepisyo,” Go stressed.

The benefits and privileges enumerated in the bill include Christmas bonus, sick and vacation leaves, annual training and skills upgrading, Civil Service Eligibility, and legal indemnification. BHWs will also be entitled to GSIS, PhilHealth and PAG-IBIG benefits.

The bill also retains the benefits and privileges of BHWs under Republic Act 7883 or “The Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995,” such as free legal services and preferential access to loans.

The bill also states that BHWs will not be terminated except for cause provided under existing civil service rules and regulations and only after notice and hearing. BHWs found by the Civil Service Commission to be unjustly dismissed from work will be entitled to reinstatement without loss of benefits and their back wages.

The compensation for BHWs will be charged to the annual General Appropriations Act under the budget of the Department of Health or the respective barangays.

The bill also defines the role of BHWs. They will be responsible for assisting in the delivery of basic and primary healthcare services; implementation of family planning, feeding and nutrition, immunization programs, disaster response and mitigation, sanitation programs and anti-drug abuse rehabilitation and information campaigns; and establishment of national or local health management information systems.

They will also be tasked to assist other medical and healthcare providers.

Ardently fighting for the welfare of the country’s healthcare workers (HCWs), Go earlier authored and co-sponsored RA 11712 which provides mandatory continuing benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers and barangay health workers during a state of public health emergency. (OSBG)