The Provincial Health Board is reportedly considering a resolution calling for the retention and continued service of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) following reports that newly assumed barangay captains in at least two towns have removed and replaced their BHWs.
During the 10th Joint Monthly Meeting of the PHB and the PHO Technical Management Committee last Nov. 30, 2023 at RHAJ Inn in Virac, it was disclosed that some village chiefs in Baras and Pandan removed BHWs.
According to a list furnished to the Tribune, at least 15 BHWs in Baras town have been removed by their respective barangay chairpersons in Benticayan (one BHW), Agban (4), San Miguel (3), Moning (2), Macutal (2), Paniquihan (1) and Rizal (2).
Based on the official Commission on Elections list, the victorious barangay captains in the seven villages are Gabriel Villanueva (Agban), Jorel Valenzuela (Benticayan), Arbel Tejada (Macutal), Ric Barrameda (Moning), Josephine Guerrero (Paniquihan), Federico Taniegra Jr. (Rizal) and Alben Vergara (San Miguel).
The Tribune has yet to secure data regarding BHWs in Pandan town, as well as in other municipalities, who have been removed and replaced by their respective barangay captains after the 2023 BSKE last Oct. 30.
Last Aug. 24, the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a Joint Memorandum Circular assuring the security of tenure of BHWs.
JMC No. 2023-01 aims to reinforce Republic Act No. 7883, or the BHW’s Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) in safeguarding the processes for the registration and accreditation of BHWs.
“This is to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of primary care services to their communities by retaining their voluntary basic health services unless otherwise removed for unsatisfactory performance as deliberated within the Local Health Board (LHB),” the circular states.
The JMC mandates that all LGUs shall afford protection to registered or accredited BHWs, as part of the human resources critical in the delivery of devolved health services, against termination without due process.
The health board is supposed to create a BHW Registration and Accreditation Committee (BHW-RAC) to facilitate the registration and accreditation of the BHWs in order to entitle them to benefits and incentives.
Any complaints or disputes are to be resolved at the level of the municipal/city LGU if the subject of grievance is the barangay or at the provincial LGU in case of the municipal LGU.
The LHB is also mandated to formulate and implement policies, programs or specific strategies that shall afford protection to BHWs, including but not limited to the criteria/process for discontinuation of services and in cases of complaints and grievances.
To qualify for registration, the applicant BHW must have completed the DOH basic training conducted by an accredited government agency or NGO, be at least 18 years of age, have rendered voluntary primary health services for at least one (1) year prior to the filing of the application, and have a medical certificate as proof of Fit to Work status.
The LHB shall also see to it that the total number of registered BHWs shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the total population of the municipality or city.
To qualify for accreditation, the BHW must be registered and has actively rendered voluntary primary health care services in the locality for at least three (3) years immediately prior to filing the application.
In acting on complaints filed regarding the discontinuance of services of BHWs that are registered and/or accredited within the LHB, the board may temporarily assign the BHW concerned to another nearby barangay or health facility if the cause of termination is not justified as deliberated within the LHB.
Last week, Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos urged newly-elected barangay officials to retain capable barangay personnel especially health workers, nutrition scholars, and tanods, among others, for the continuity of community programs and services.
He called on Punong Barangays to discard political retribution in the appointment of barangay personnel and retain those who have been serving the community well and have undergone different capacity development interventions.
“Hindi po ito panahon ng gantihan,” Sec. Abalos stressed, pointing out that retaining barangay health workers, nutrition scholars and tanods entails both technical and institutional knowledge and expertise mustered through years of public service in the community.
A source within the Catanduanes PHB disclosed that the measure to be issued will remind Punong Barangays that only accredited and registered BHWs will be provided honoraria from the provincial government in order to discourage the barangay officials from removing existing BHWs and appointing new ones.