Senate President Win Gatchalian hailed the Senate’s third reading approval of the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (Senate Bill No. 1905), a measure that will promote their welfare and well-being, and ensure their benefits and incentives.
The approved measure provides that barangay health worker (BHW) positions, with corresponding salary grades, shall be included in the government plantilla. The bill also enumerates the benefits for volunteer BHWs, which shall include a monthly benefit of no less than P3,000, transportation allowance or expense reimbursement, subsistence allowance, and hazard allowance, among others.
The bill also institutionalizes the provision of insurance coverage, free legal services, and psychosocial support and mental health services for BHWs. To advance BHWs’ professional development, the measure seeks to develop and institutionalize a continuing competency-based education and training curriculum.
“Ang ating mga barangay health workers ang nagsisilbing frontliners upang tugunan ang pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng ating mga komunidad. Ipinasa natin ang Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers bilang pagkilala sa kanilang mahalagang papel, at bilang pagtataguyod sa kanilang kapakanan,” said Gatchalian, co-author and co-sponsor of the measure.
Gatchalian: Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers Aprubado na sa Senado
Ikinagalak ni Senate President Win Gatchalian ang pag-apruba ng Senado sa huli at ikatlong pagbasa ng Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (Senate Bill No. 1905), isang panukalang batas na magsusulong sa kapakanan ng mga barangay health workers (BHWs) at magtitiyak na makakatanggap sila ng sapat na mga incentives at benepisyo.
Nakasaad sa inaprubahang panukala ang pagsasama sa government plantilla ng mga posisyon para sa barangay health workers (BHWs), kasama ang kaukulang salary grades. Itinatakda rin ng panukala ang mga benepisyo para sa mga volunteer BHWs, kabilang ang buwanang benepisyong hindi bababa sa P3,000, transportation allowance o expense reimbursement, subsistence allowance, hazard allowance, at iba pa.
Nakasaad din sa naturang panukala ang pagkakaloob sa mga BHWs ng insurance coverage, free legal services, psychosocial support, at mental health services. Upang isulong ang professional development ng mga BHW, layon ng panukala na bumuo at magpatupad ng isang continuing competency-based education at training curriculum.
“Ang ating mga barangay health workers ang nagsisilbing frontliners upang tugunan ang pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng ating mga komunidad. Ipinasa natin ang Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers bilang pagkilala sa kanilang mahalagang papel, at bilang pagtataguyod sa kanilang kapakanan,” pahayag ni Gatchalian, co-author at co-sponsor ng panukala.
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Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS WIN GATCHALIAN
