QuestionsQuestions (PROCLAMATION NO. 407)
RA No. 7883 is known as the “Barangay Health Workers' Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995.” It was approved on February 20, 1995.
The State must protect and promote the right to health and provide conditions for health empowerment. The Primary Health Care Approach is recognized as the major strategy, emphasizing accessible and acceptable services through participatory strategies such as health education, training of barangay health workers, and community building/organizing; thus, the Act provides incentives to communities and their frontliners.
A barangay health worker is a person who underwent training under any accredited government and non-government organization, who voluntarily renders primary health care services in the community after being accredited to function as such by the local health board, in accordance with DOH guidelines.
The barangay health worker must register with the local health board in the city or municipality where they render service. The local health board (through provincial health boards for municipalities) must furnish a copy to the DOH, which maintains a national register.
The DOH maintains the national register. It is populated through copies furnished by local/provincial health boards based on the local registry of accredited barangay health workers.
The total number of barangay health workers nationwide must not exceed one percent (1%) of the total population.
The DOH determines the ideal ratio of barangay health workers to the number of households, subject to the national cap of not exceeding 1% of the total population.
It applies to volunteer barangay health workers in rural and urban areas who are exposed to foreseeable but unavoidable dangers/risks in the work environment that endanger health or life and/or increase the risk of adverse effects. It must be validated by the proper authorities, and the amount is determined by the local health board and the local peace and order council.
Barangay health workers assigned within the premises of isolated barangay health stations, so their services are available at all times, are entitled to subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals they take during duty. Computation follows prevailing circumstances as determined by the local government unit.
RA 7883 requires DOH to provide: (1) educational programs recognizing years of primary health care service as credits to higher education in institutions with stepladder curricula; (2) continuing education, study/exposure tours, grants, field immersion, scholarships, etc.; (3) scholarship benefits in the form of tuition fees in state colleges for one child of every barangay health worker who cannot take advantage of the above programs; and (4) special training programs (e.g., traditional medicine, disaster preparedness, and other emergent community health issue trainings).
A second grade eligibility is granted to barangay health workers who have rendered five (5) years of continuous service as such. If they later become regular government employees, the years served as barangay health workers are credited for computing retirement benefits.
The Public Attorneys Office must immediately provide legal representation and consultation services for barangay health workers in cases of coercion, interference, and other civil and criminal cases filed by or against barangay health workers that arise out of or in connection with the performance of their duties.
DOH, in coordination with other agencies, must provide a loan-access mechanism within 180 days from the Act’s effectivity. Loan agencies must set aside one percent (1%) of their loanable funds for organized barangay health worker groups with community-based income generating projects supporting health programs/activities.
Any incentive or benefit requiring expenditure of local funds must be reviewed and approved by the local health board to ensure only deserving barangay health workers receive them.
The implementing rules and regulations must be formulated within 180 days from the Act’s effectivity, in cooperation with specified agencies (e.g., DepEd, DILG, DOJ, Civil Service Commission, and other concerned agencies/NGOs).
RA 7883 takes effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
It includes a separability clause: if any provision is declared invalid, the remainder or any unaffected provision remains in force and effect.
All laws, decrees, executive orders, and other presidential issuances inconsistent with RA 7883 are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.