JV Ejercito Disappointed Over House’s Last-Minute Reversal on BHW Bill
June 11, 2025
On the last day of plenary session before the Senate adjourns sine die, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito expressed disappointment over the House of Representatives’ withdrawal of its adoption of Senate Bill No. 2838, or the Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers.
“For the information of all our beloved BHWs, we would like to express our sadness and disappointment with this current development,” Ejercito said in a speech during the plenary session on Wednesday, June 11.
The Senate passed the BHW bill on third and final reading in February, and the House subsequently adopted the Senate version of the measure.
Ejercito said he had expected the bill to be signed into law, thinking it was already a done deal, only for it to be rescinded during the last week of the 19th Congress.
“We were expecting that this bill which aims to acknowledge and recognize the hard work and dedication of our unsung heroes was just at the doorsteps of Malacañang, waiting to be signed into law,” the lawmaker from San Juan said.
“Sa kasamaang palad po, sa pagbawi ng mga kasamahan natin mula sa HOR ng kanilang acceptance ng Senate version, ito ay mistulang hakbang paatras para sa tuluyang pagsasabatas ng panukala nating ito,” he added.
Ejercito believes that the Magna Carta for BHWs bill should be passed into law to “justly compensate your service to our people.”
He assured barangay health workers that the Senate has always been aware, sensitive, and concerned about their struggles, especially as frontliners during the pandemic.
“Sa bahagi po ng Senado, ginawa na po namin ang aming tungkulin ngunit makakaasa po kayo na patuloy kaming nakasuporta sa lahat ng ating BHWs.”
“Maghihintay kami sa susunod na mga hakbang na maaaring gawin ng HOR para umusad ang bill nating ito na handog natin sa ating mga bayaning BHWs.”
