House panel OKs magna carta for barangay health workers

The House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday approved the measure calling for a magna carta for barangay health workers which recognizes their contributions to local communities.

Tarlac 3rd District Representative Noel Villanueva said that it is high time to approve this bill to give apt benefits to the barangay health workers and to protect them from political harassment whenever the administration changes on the barangay or municipal level.

“Nararapat lamang po na kilalanin natin ang mahalagang papel na kanilang ginagampanan sa ating lipunan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng mga benepisyo at ang pinakamahalaga, ‘yung security of tenure. Kararampot na nga lang po ang kanilang allowance, nagiging biktima pa sila ng political harrassment,” he said.

(Let us recognize the important role that they play in our community by giving them the benefits and most importantly, security of tenure. They have a meager income and sometimes they still become victims of political harassment.)

Baguio City Representative Mark Go asked the panel to include in this bill authored by BHW Party-list Representative Angelica Natasha Co the barangay nutrition scholars (BNS) and barangay nutrition action officers as they are, according to him, doing the similar work as the barangay health workers.

However, committee vice chair Zamboanga 2nd District Representative Mannix Dalipe said that this magna carta is solely for the barangay health workers. Deputy Speaker and Sorsogon 1st District Representative Evelina Escudero also said that there is a separate bill for the BNS and other barangay workers.

Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Carlos Zarate also supported this bill, hoping that it will emphasize the need to support the barangay health workers so they too can receive their special risk allowance.

The country currently has Republic Act 7305: Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, enacted to ensure the social and economic welfare of health workers and give them various benefits for the medical services they offer. — BM, GMA News