CEBU CITY - Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman presented her goal of making barangay health workers regular government employees to the Cebuano people amid the wide and heavy responsibilities that these workers have in their respective areas.
The lawmaker explained the important provisions of House Bill 6481 titled Barangay Frontline Health Services which she authored, during a gathering with the barangay health workers in the province of Cebu held in this city.
The bill aims to elevate BHWs as regular government employees, with most of them being considered as volunteers only receiving honorarium much lower than the minimum wage.
“Agrabyado po sa ganito ang barangay health workers dahil ang responsibilidad nila ay maihahalintulad na rin sa mga propesyunal na manggagamot. Sa mga barangay, sila ang unang tinatawag o kaya ay nagtutungo sa mga may medical needs,” Roman said.
Under the bill, the Department of Health would establish a registry of qualified barangay health care frontline services (BHFS) personnel, included in the list will receive regular basic salary, as well as insurance and benefits similar to other workers in the public sector.
Registered barangay health workers are entitled to a monthly compensation of Salary Grade 1, which is P12,517 based on the Salary Standardization Law of 2019.
"We want a national registry para pirmi kayo sa inyong mga puwesto, and because you are to be considered as regular government employees dahil talaga namang nagbibigay kayo ng public service," said Roman.
In addition to a monthly salary, the lawmaker is also backing for additional benefits for barangay health workers, such as insurance coverage from GSIS and PhilHealth.
The Barangay Frontline Health Services bill also includes various allowances, such as hazard and transportation allowances, as well as training and career enrichment programs for BHWs with the help of various government agencies.
"Nagpapagaling kayo, tumutulong kayo sa pagpapagaling ng mga may sakit. You take care of the health of all Filipinos and yet ang sahod ninyo, ang salary ninyo parang tip lamang, hindi ito makatarungan, hindi ito tama!" the lawmaker said.
Roman assured BHWs that she will continue to fight for the proposed bill alongside BHW party-list Representative Nikka Co, who also attended the event in Cebu.
The Barangay Frontline Health Services bill is currently pending in the House Committee on Health.
"Sa mga minamahal kong mga barangay health workers subaybayan po ninyo as Congresswoman Nikka and I fight para ma-establish itong Barangay Health Care Frontline Service," Roman said. (Cebu Examiner)
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