Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday welcomed the renewed efforts by the Senate to recognize and strengthen support for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), citing their indispensable role in the country’s healthcare system.

This came as the Senate on February 25, 2026 took up on second reading the proposed Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (Senate Bill No. 1905 under Committee Report No. 35), which Cayetano co-authored.

“As frontliners of our primary healthcare system, our BHWs must be given sufficient incentives, benefits, and most of all, just compensation for all the hard work they have done for us,” the Minority Leader said.

Cayetano, who has consistently pushed for legislation that institutionalizes benefits and security for BHWs, had co-authored a similar measure in the previous Congress. It was approved by the Senate but did not prosper after the House of Representatives withdrew its transmittal.

Inspired by their dedication and service since the 18th Congress, the Minority Leader has championed his own measure – the Mahal Ko, Barangay Health Worker Ko Law – for the formal employment and adequate compensation of BWHs by their respective local government units. 

He refiled this proposal in the 19th and again in the 20th Congress as Senate Bill No. 419, calling its reintroduction an “an unmistakable reaffirmation of its urgent and enduring relevance.”

The bill mandates cities and municipalities to hire BHWs as job order, contractual, casual, or regular employees, putting an end to their perennial status as unpaid or underpaid volunteers.

This employment shift would entitle BHWs to fair compensation and full benefits equivalent to their employment status, ensuring that these vital  grassroots health workers are properly supported.

The Department of Health (DOH) will be tasked with setting an ideal BHW-to-population ratio to ensure sufficient manpower in every locality for the effective delivery of essential health services.

To assist LGUs with limited resources, the measure also proposes a Special BHW Assistance Program through the DOH and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). This 10-year program will provide technical, financial, and training support to help LGUs sustain BHW employment and development.

Funding will be sourced from the National Tax Allotment (NTA) of LGUs, following the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling, which increases the LGUs’ share of national taxes. Initial funding for the support program will be drawn from the DOH budget.

Cayetano emphasized that formally recognizing BHWs as part of the public health workforce is crucial to building a more resilient and equitable healthcare system, especially in light of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also cited the City of Taguig as a model for local government support for BHWs through formal employment and comprehensive benefits.

“The City of Taguig shows its support and appreciation toward our BHWs through multiple incentives. Aside from their regular salary, they receive bonuses and other benefits such as training, overtime pay, and hazard pay. We have elevated their status to be formally employed under our LGU as job order and casual employees,” he said, expressing hope that similar practices could be adopted nationwide.

“We should start properly compensating, assisting, and building up the skills of our health workers, because they are the backbone of the efficient delivery of our overall health system,” he added.###