AN ACT GRANTING BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES TO ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Nineth Congress
Third Regular Session

[ REPUBLIC ACT No. 7883, February 20, 1995 ]

AN ACT GRANTING BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES TO ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS 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 Workers' Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995."

Section 2. Statement of Policy. -The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and to provide conditions for health empowerment, where each individual has access to information and services that will bring about health and well-being. the Primary Health Care Approach is recognized as the major strategy towards health empowerment, emphasizing the need to provide accessible and acceptable health services through participatory strategies such as health education, training of barangay health workers, community building and organizing. Towards this end, this Act shall provide incentives to communities and act as frontliners in the Primary Health Care Approach.

The government and all its instrumentalities shall also recognize the rights of barangay health workers to organize themselves; to strengthen and systematize their services for their community; and to make a venue for sharing their experiences and for recommending policies and guidelines for the promotion, maintenance and advancement of their activities and services.

Section 3. Definition. -The term "barangay health worker" refers to a person who has undergone training programs under any accredited govemment and 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).

Section 4. Registration. - in order for barangay health workers to be entitled to benefits and incentives provided under this Act, they shall register with the local health board in the city or municipality in which they render service. the local health board, through the provincial health boards in the case of municipalities, shall furnish a copy of such registry to the DOH, which is hereby mandated to maintain a national register of barangay health workers. the accredited barangay health workers shall be given appropriate proof of said accreditation.

Section 5. Number of Barangay Health Workers.-The DOH shall determine the ideal ratio of barangay health workers to the number of households: Provided, That the total number of barangay health workers nationwide shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the total population.

Section 6. Incentives and Benefits. -In recognition of their services, all accredited barangay health workers who are actively and regularly performing their duties shall be entitled to the following incentives and benefits:

Section 7. Review by the Local Health Board. -Every incentive or benefit for barangay health workers requiring the expenditure of local funds shall be reviewed and approved by the local health board to ensure that only the deserving barangay health workers get the same.

Section 8. Rules and Regulations. - the Department of Health, in cooperation with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Justice, the Civil Service Commission and other concerned government agencies and non-government organizations, shall formulate, within one hundred eighty (180) days from its effectivity, the rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.

Section 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the remainder or any provision hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders and other presidential issuances which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act which originated in the Senate was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on February 15, 1995, and February 13, 1995, respectively.

Approved: February 20, 1995

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines