Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano welcomed the Senate’s renewed push to strengthen support for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), recognizing their vital role in primary healthcare.
On February 25, 2026, the Senate approved on second reading the proposed Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (SB 1905), a measure Cayetano co-authored, which seeks to provide BHWs with incentives, benefits, and fair compensation.
Cayetano also renewed support for his proposed Mahal Ko, Barangay Health Worker Ko Law (SB 419), which would require local government units to formally employ BHWs as job order, contractual, casual, or regular workers, ending their long-standing volunteer status.
The bill mandates proper pay and benefits, sets ideal BHW-to-population ratios through the Department of Health, and proposes a 10-year assistance program to help resource-limited LGUs sustain BHW employment.
Funding will come from LGUs’ National Tax Allotment and the DOH budget.
Cayetano cited Taguig City as a model, noting that its BHWs receive salaries, bonuses, training, overtime, and hazard pay.
He stressed that properly supporting BHWs is essential to a stronger and more resilient healthcare system.