Cayetano hails Senate push to compensate Barangay Health Workers, says measure is key to address stunting
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday hailed the Senate’s approval on third reading of the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, saying the measure is key to addressing the country’s high rate of child stunting.
“It’s an honor to see this measure passed today. Marami pang kailangan gawin, pero napakalaking step nito,” Cayetano, a co-author of Senate Bill No. 1905, said during the August 3, 2026 plenary session.
“This (bill) is a recognition na walang healthy na nation kapag hindi healthy ang mamamayan,” he added.
The bill seeks to strengthen Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in delivering primary healthcare services. If signed into law, the measure gives registered BHWs at least P3,000 in monthly benefits, with eligible workers also entitled to transportation and hazard allowances, free legal assistance, loyalty incentives, cash gifts, insurance coverage, and mental health services.
The bill also establishes formal rules for local health worker registration, certification, professional growth, and training.
Cayetano said BHWs play a critical role in preventing child stunting through their work with pregnant women, infants, and young children.
“We have again and again emphasized that stunting or pagkabansot is a national security problem or a big problem for our country. Statistics show that almost one-fourth ng ating mga kababayan are in danger of falling into stunting,” he said, citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).
“The antidote or the solution to stunting really has to do with the Barangay Health Workers,” he stressed.
Drawing from the City of Taguig’s experience, Cayetano cited the city’s low stunting rate as an example of the impact of strong community-based health programs led by BHWs and Barangay Nutrition Scholars.
“Taguig is proud to have the lowest stunting incidence in Metro Manila, and through God’s grace, much credit is given to the barangay nutrition scholars and the BHWs,” the senator said.
“Kasi sa isang tingin pa lang (ng BHW), kapag nakita po or sa isang tanong or sa isang tingin kapag nakitang buntis, nandyan na y’ung programa para sa mga buntis. At kapag nanganak na, lalo ‘pag tinitimbang na ang mga bata, y’ung ibang indicators ng malnutrition, magkakaroon ng maagang intervention,” he added.
Since 2024, the senator has consistently raised concern about the devastating effects of child stunting and the lasting consequences it poses for the next generation of Filipinos. He is author of the Anti-Stunting Action Plan (ASAP) Council Act of 2025, which seeks to establish a high-level council that will formulate and lead a strategic, whole-of-government and whole-of-society action plan to reduce and prevent stunting nationwide. The measure remains pending at the committee level.
Cayetano is also the author of Mahal Ko, Barangay Health Worker Ko Law, which aims to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots level and institutionalize greater legal protection and support for BHWs. His proposal was consolidated into the approved measure.
His version sought to entitle BHWs to fair compensation and full benefits equivalent to their employment status, ensuring that these vital grassroots health workers are properly supported.
He also pointed to Taguig as a model for supporting BHWs through formal employment and comprehensive benefits. In the city, BHWs receive regular salaries, bonuses, training, overtime pay, hazard pay, and other incentives. They are also formally employed by the local government as Job Order and Casual employees, which Cayetano said he hopes can be replicated nationwide.
“In a perfect world, they (BHWs) should really be national government employees getting full benefits and getting everything from training and equipment,” he said.
Cayetano also underscored the vital role BHWs play in the country’s healthcare system and local communities.
“We took a giant step today (for BHWs), but there is so much more that we can do to build a health system that we can all be proud of that can really be relevant sa bawat Piliipino,” the senator said.
“And kung sino ang nasa grassroots talaga — y’ung primary health care or the barangay health center, barangay nutrition volunteers, barangay health workers – they are as important as our surgeons, hospital administrators, engineers that build our hospital medical technician. So it’s about time that we look at the health system holistically,” he added.
He urged the Senate to pass complementary measures that would further strengthen the country’s healthcare system alongside the Magna Carta for BHWs.
“I join my dear colleagues, especially the sponsors and the authors in not only voting for this bill, but to encourage this chamber to follow it up with the other bills that will actually bring us to a world-class health system,” he said.
Filipino Version
Ipinasang Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, susi sa pagtugon sa stunting – Cayetano
Pinuri ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Lunes ang pag-apruba ng Senado sa ikatlong pagdinig ang Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers na aniya’y susi sa pagtugon sa mataas na antas ng stunting o pagkabansot ng mga bata sa bansa.
“It’s an honor to see this measure passed today. Marami pang kailangan gawin, pero napakalaking step nito,” wika ni Cayetano, bilang co-author ng Senate Bill No. 1905, sa August 3, 2026 plenary session.
“This (bill) is a recognition na walang healthy na nation kapag hindi healthy ang mamamayan,” dagdag niya.
Layunin ng panukalang batas na palakasin ang mga Barangay Health Worker (BHW) sa paghatid ng mga pangunahing serbisyong pangkalusugan. Kung maisabatas, magbibigay ito sa mga rehistradong BHW ng hindi bababa sa P3,000 na buwanang benepisyo. Ang mga kwalipikadong manggagawa ay may karapatan din sa transportation at hazard allowance, libreng legal assistance, loyalty incentives, cash gifts, insurance coverage, at mga mental health service.
Kasama rin sa panukalang batas ang pormal na tuntunin para sa registration, certification, professional growth, at training ng mga BHW.
Wika ni Cayetano, mahalaga ang papel ng mga BHW sa pagtugon sa problema ng child stunting sa pamamagitan ng kanilang pag-alaga sa mga buntis, sanggol, at mga bata.
“We have again and again emphasized that stunting or pagkabansot is a national security problem or a big problem for our country. Statistics show that almost one-fourth ng ating mga kababayan are in danger of falling into stunting,” aniya.
“The antidote or the solution to stunting really has to do with the Barangay Health Workers,” giit niya.
Sinabi ni Cayetano na batay sa karanasan ng lungsod ng Taguig, ang mababang antas ng stunting sa lungsod ay halimbawa ng epekto ng isang matatag na programang pangkalusugan na nakabase sa komunidad, na pinangungunahan ng mga BHW at Barangay Nutrition Scholars.
“Taguig is proud to have the lowest stunting incidence in Metro Manila, and through God’s grace, much credit is given to the barangay nutrition scholars and the BHWs,” sabi ng senador.
“Kasi sa isang tingin pa lang (ng BHW), kapag nakita po or sa isang tanong or sa isang tingin kapag nakitang buntis, nandyan na y’ung programa para sa mga buntis. At kapag nanganak na, lalo ‘pag tinitimbang na ang mga bata, y’ung ibang indicators ng malnutrition, magkakaroon ng maagang intervention,” sabi pa niya.
Taong 2024 pa nang magsimulang kalampagin ng senador ang gobyerno sa mapaminsalang epekto ng pagkabansot sa mga bata at ang pangmatagalang bunga nito para sa susunod na henerasyon ng mga Pilipino. Siya ang may-akda ng Anti-Stunting Action Plan (ASAP) Council Act of 2025, na naglalayong magtatag ng isang mataas na antas na konseho na bubuo at mangunguna sa isang estratehiko, whole-of-government at whole-of-society na plan of action upang mabawasan at maiwasan ang pagkabansot sa buong bansa. Nananatili pa ring nakabinbin ang panukala sa antas ng komite.
Si Cayetano rin ang may-akda ng Mahal Ko, Barangay Health Worker Ko Law, na naglalayong palakasin ang paghahatid ng healthcare services sa antas ng mamamayan at gawing mas malawak ang legal na proteksyon at suporta para sa mga BHW. Kabilang ang kanyang panukala sa ipinagsama-sama at inaprubahang panukala.
Sa bersyon ni Cayetano, layuning bigyan ang mga BWH ng karapatan na tamang kabayaran, buong benepisyo na katumbas ng kanilang katayuan sa trabaho, at tiyakin ang suporta para sa kanila bilang mga health worker sa komunidad.
Itinuro rin niya ang Taguig bilang isang modelo para sa pagsuporta sa mga BHW sa pamamagitan ng pormal na trabaho at komprehensibong mga benepisyo. Sa lungsod, ang mga BHW ay tumatanggap ng regular na sweldo, bonus, pagsasanay, overtime pay, hazard pay, at iba pang insentibo. Pormal din silang nagtatrabaho sa lokal na pamahalaan bilang mga empleyado na Job Order at Casual, na ayon kay Cayetano ay umaasa siyang matutularan sa buong bansa.
“In a perfect world, they (BHWs) should really be national government employees getting full benefits and getting everything from training and equipment,” aniya.
Binigyang diin pa ni Cayetano ang mahalagang papel ng mga BWH sa healthcare system ng bansa, lalo sa mga komunidad.
“We took a giant step today (for BHWs), but there is so much more that we can do to build a health system that we can all be proud of that can really be relevant sa bawat Piliipino,” wika ng senador.
“And kung sino ang nasa grassroots talaga — y’ung primary health care or the barangay health center, barangay nutrition volunteers, barangay health workers – they are as important as our surgeons, hospital administrators, engineers that build our hospital medical technician. So it’s about time that we look at the health system holistically,” dagdag niya.
Hinimok pa niya ang Senado na magpasa ng mga panukalang batas na lalong magpapalakas sa sistema ng kalusugan ng bansa kasama ng Magna Carta for BHWs.
“I join my dear colleagues, especially the sponsors and the authors in not only voting for this bill, but to encourage this chamber to follow it up with the other bills that will actually bring us to a world-class health system,” aniya.
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