JV Ejercito pushes for standardized pay for barangay health workers under magna carta
January 21, 2025
Barangay health workers (BHWs), the backbone of the country’s community healthcare system, may soon receive fair and standardized compensation under Senate Bill No. 2838, or the Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers, championed by Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.
“We’re pushing for a minimum P3,000 allowance nationwide so their compensation is fair and reflective of their critical role in our communities,” Ejercito said during the Senate interpellation on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
This was in response to the glaring disparity in the allowances received by BHWs, which Ejercito raised during the interpellation.
“Napakalaki ng agwat. Some BHWs earn as little as P200 per month, while others receive up to P10,000. That’s unacceptable,” the lawmaker from San Juan pointed out.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), there are currently 253,000 registered BHWs across the country. Despite their contributions to community healthcare, Ejercito noted that their pay remains inconsistent and largely dependent on the financial capacity of local government units (LGUs).
“With their limited fiscal capacity, the national government needs to step in. Under this bill, LGUs will co-share the compensation, but the subsidy from the national government is also expected to cover areas that need it most,” he said, noting that 3rd to 5th-class municipalities often struggle to provide proper compensation for BHWs.
Ejercito also emphasized the importance of securing proper funding for the measure to ensure it delivers meaningful reforms.
“Hindi pwedeng ipasa ito nang walang pondo. Kung walang budget, para lang tayong nagsulat sa tubig. We’re waiting for the computation from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the financial requirements for poorer municipalities. Dapat sustainable ito,” he said.
The senator highlighted the significant return on investment in BHWs, describing them as the “foot soldiers” of community health.
“They educate our kababayans on preventive healthcare and help them stay healthy. Ang laki ng balik nito sa Universal Healthcare. If we can allocate billions for ‘ayuda’ we can certainly provide decent compensation for BHWs.”
During the 7th Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in December, Ejercito presented the bill to congressional leaders and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., whom Ejercito said had personally asked the DBM to provide the computation.
As the principal author and sponsor of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, Ejercito assured that the proposed Magna Carta for BHWs will be fully funded and effectively implemented.
“Laws are only as reliable as the funding behind them. We are continously working to ensure this measure delivers real and lasting change for our BHWs,” he said.