Lawmakers led by Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday filed a measure seeking to increase the compensation and benefits of barangay health workers (BHWs) to strengthen the primary healthcare system amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Cayetano filed House Bill 10112, which seeks to require local government units to hire and compensate barangay health workers as job order, casual, contractual, or regular employees.
The bill also seeks to establish the Special Barangay Health Workers Assistance Program under the Department of Health.
The program will provide additional financial and technical assistance, training, and other forms of support to BHWs of selected LGUs.
The co-authors of the bill are Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano, Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, and Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor.
“As front-liners of our Primary Healthcare System, our barangay health workers must be given sufficient incentives, benefits, and most of all, just compensation for all the hard work they have done for us. The goal of improving the Primary Healthcare System necessarily carries with it the responsibility of taking care and supporting those in charge of implementing the same,” the authors said in the explanatory note of the bill.
The bill proposes that the funding for the increased compensation of BHWs will be sourced from the additional funds that local government units will receive upon the implementation of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas-Garcia ruling.
The ruling has clarified that custom duties and several other taxes should be included in the just share of local government units in the collection of national taxes. It is expected to increase the internal revenue allotment of local government units next year.
“Therefore, there’s (an) additional source of funds for the salaries and benefits of Barangay Health Workers who tirelessly sacrificed for their community, especially during this pandemic,” the lawmakers said.
Criminalizing vaccine hoarding
Meanwhile, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas has filed a bill criminalizing the hoarding of vaccines, as well as getting and administering unauthorized vaccine shots during public health emergencies.
In filing House Bill 10106, Vargas said vaccine hoarding and unauthorized vaccinations during public health emergencies “are selfish and detrimental to the collective recovery and protection of the Filipino people.”
“These acts are inimical to the public health system and the overall welfare of the public, thus, must be penalized,” Vargas said.
The bill, otherwise known as the proposed Anti-Vaccine Hoarding Act, seeks to impose a penalty of 15 to 60 days imprisonment and a fine ranging from PHP100,000 to PHP500,000 for violators.
Vargas proposed such measure following reports of individuals allegedly hoarding vaccines and getting additional vaccinations, or third vaccine shots, in some cities of Metro Manila by lying about their vaccine status.
“Vaccine hoarding and unauthorized vaccinations have jeopardized the proper delivery of public health services and the welfare of every Filipino who has been deprived of the opportunity to be protected from the coronavirus,” he said. (PNA)
