Marcos wants passage of Magna Carta for barangay health workers

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has pushed for the passage of a Magna Carta for barangay health workers (BHW) in recognition of their valuable service to local communities, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Wednesday.

“I’m also happy to say, I was with the PLLO [Presidential Legislative Liaison Office] yesterday and kasama na doon sa napasa na na mga batas ay isa doon was the Magna Carta for barangay health workers. Kaya’t malaking bagay ‘yan,” Marcos said.

“Kami na dumaan sa local government… will never argue with the importance of the barangay health workers and for that matter all the volunteers at the barangay level at ang BHW-- siyempre kayo pinakamarami. Lalo na ngayon na maraming sakuna, we know that we can always count on the BHW,” he added.

House Bill No. 6557 which provides BHWs a monthly honoraria of P3,000  among other benefits,  was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading last December 2022.

Marcos said BHWs provide basic health services to communities, conduct house-to-house visits, and help make arrangements for sick people who need hospitalization.

The President said they are also important sources of information for the national government in its policy decisions.

“At kaya’t para naman magkaroon kami ng magandang decision sa national level ay kailangan pa rin namin ng tulong ng BHW,” Marcos said.

“I do not know how the government will function without the barangay health workers, without the lupon, without the daycare center workers, lahat ng volunteer workers natin. ‘Yun ang inaasahan talaga ng pamahalaan, ang mga volunteers na tumutulong sa gobyerno at nagdadala ng serbisyo sa gobyerno,” he added.

He said the government made sure that the Magna Carta for barangay health workers was included in the priority measures, adding that he expects no opposition to the bill.

“I hope that the passage of the Magna Carta bill will be the beginning of tuloy-tuloy na aming maibibigay na makabawi naman kami, makabawi naman kami sa inyong trabaho, sa inyong volunteer work at to recognize the importance of the work of the barangay health workers,” he said.

“We cannot do this without you. Please keep up the good work. And the government and most importantly, our people, are counting on you,” he added.

The bill grants an accredited barangay health worker hazard, transportation and subsistence allowances, including a one-time retirement cash incentive, health benefits, vacation and maternity leaves and cash gifts.

The bill also mandates the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to provide an accredited barangay health workers insurance coverage and benefits the cost of which will be shouldered by the local government unit concerned.—LDF, GMA Integrated News