NOV.

25, 2011 DATE

NR # 2598
REF. NO.

Bill seeks to uplift status and work conditions of barangay workers

A House member is seeking the betterment of the status and work conditions of the countrys barangay workers through the passage of the proposed Barangay Workers Act that aims to pursue their rights and welfare. Rep. Arthur Defensor, Jr. ( 3rd District, Iloilo), an assistant majority leader, said his proposal embodied in House Bill 5441 aims to institutionalize the status of barangay workers by establishing their rights and providing for their welfare. It also aims to provide an administrative development council at the national and local levels for the formulation and implementation of policy and regulation in pursuit of the rights and welfare of barangay workers. The bill also aims to provide for an organization that shall serve as a forum for selfdetermination and empowerment of barangay workers according to Defensor. Covered by the bill are barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, barangay day care workers and the barangay service point officers who are the frontline government personnel in the delivery of basic social services in the area of health, nutrition and child care. At present, Defensor said the employment and service of the barangay workers are governed at least in part by scattered pieces of legislation which are rather outdated and not as relevant as may be desired for more effective and motivated delivery of basic services of health, nutrition and child care services. Defensor cited these scattered pieces of legislation governing the barangay health workers include: Republic Act 7883, Barangay Health Workers Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995; Presidential Decree 1569, Strengthening the Barangay Nutrition Program by Providing for a Barangay Nutrition Scholar in Every Barangay, Providing Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes; P.D. 1567, Establishing a Day Care Center in Every Barangay and Appropriating Funds Therefore; and P.D. 79, the Revised Population Act of the Philippines. The bill provides that the State guarantees the following rights of barangay workers, namely: security of tenure; right to just compensation; right to administrative and logistical support for the effective performance of their functions; right to training for accreditation under the relevant government programs; right to health services, including entitlement to full coverage in government health insurance programs; right to government scholarship of barangay workers and their legitimate spouses and dependents in state colleges and universities; and right to organize to protect the barangay workers rights and promote their welfare. The bill enumerates the powers and functions of the National Barangay Workers Council (NBWC) which shall include acting as a national consultative and advisory body to the President of the Philippines and Congress on matters relating to the barangay health, nutrition, day care and other related services.

NOV. 25, 2011 DATE

NR # 2598
REF. NO.

The NBWC shall also formulate and approve policies and regulations on the employment and functions of the barangay workers in the following areas: appointment; qualification; compensation; working conditions; training; and social benefits. The NBWC shall also review and approve the programs of the local barangay workers councils, consistent with national development plans. It shall also call, from time to time, national conferences of barangay workers, and shall exercise technical and administrative and operational supervision over the Provincial Barangay Workers Councils. The NBWC shall be assisted by a secretariat to be headed by an executive director and two deputy directors who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. The bill also provides for the creation of the Provincial Barangay Workers Council, the Municipal Barangay Workers Council, the Municipal Barangay Workers Assembly, the Municipal Barangay Workers Board, the Provincial Barangay Workers Assembly and the Provincial Barangay Workers Board. (30) rbb