ORDINANCE NO: 2023-558 Authored by: Honorable Priscilla M. Fernandez "AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING POLICIES AND MECHANISMS FOR THE RETENTION AND CONTINUED SERVICE OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7883, otherwise known as "AN ACT GRANTING BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES TO ACCREDITED BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Health (DOH) issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2023-001 which, in gist, mandates all Local Government Units to establish policies that will ensure security of tenure of every accredited Barangay Health Worker against illegal dismissal and/or termination without due process of law; WHEREAS, the same Order requires local Sanggunian to enact legislation that will provide guidelines in the registration and accreditation of barangay health workers in the Local Health Board (LHB) as well as establish mechanism that shall protect BHWs from illegal dismissal or termination without due process aside from the provision of incentives, honorarium and/or retirement benefits subject, however, to the budgetary requirements and general limitations on the use of local funds; WHEREAS, the City Government of Pagadian under this present administration recognizes the role of every Barangay Health Worker as frontliners in giving primary health care services and assisting the delivery of comprehensive and quality health care services to the community, thus, the establishment of necessary policies and mechanism to promote security of tenure and ensure an uninterrupted delivery of primary health care services by retaining their voluntary basic health services to every barangay; NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (14th City Council) of Pagadian City in session assembled that: SECTION 1. TITLE. - This Ordinance shall be entitled "AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING POLICIES AND MECHANISM FOR THE RETENTION AND CONTINUED SERVICE OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS." SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. - It shall be the policy of the Local Government of Pagadian to establish policies and mechanisms for the retention and continued volunteer service of Barangay Health Workers to ensure continuous delivery of devolved health services to every barangay of the City; SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. The following terms shall be construed to mean, as follows: Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) - refers to those who have undergone training programs under any accredited government and non-government organization and who voluntarily render primary health care services in the community after having been registered and accredited to function by the Local Health Board in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the DOH; BHW Registration and Accreditation Committee (BHW-RAC) - refers to a committee that created by the LHB to facilitate the registration and accreditation of BHWs to be entitled to the benefits and incentives. Local Health Board (LHB) - refers to an advisory body on health of the City Government mandated to safeguard the registration and accreditation process of BHWs and to review and approve every incentive for the BHWs requiring the expenditures of local funds; SECTION 4. GENERAL POLICIES AND MECHANISMS FOR THE RETENTION AND CONTINUED SERVICES FOR BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS. A. GENERAL POLICIES The Local Health Board (LHB) shall formulate and implement health policies, programs, or specific strategies that afford the protection and continued services of BHWs. The LHB shall formulate specific procedures in cases of complaints and grievances against a BHW; The LHB shall create BHW-RAC to give assistance in the registration and accreditation of BHWs which shall be composed of the following: Local Chief Executive; Sangguniang Panlungsod, Chairperson of the Committee on Health and Social Services; City Health Officer, as the Chairperson for BHW-RAC; Representative of Non-Government Organization (NGO); People's Organization with implementing community-based health or health-related programs; President of City BHW Federation; and DOH Representative to the LHB. The BHW-RAC shall identify and register BHWs in all barangays. All registered BHWs shall be entitled to the benefits and incentives as established under Rule VII of RA No. 7883 IRR whose performances will be monitored by the LHB pursuant to Section 5, Rule II of RA No. 7883 IRR; B. REGISTRATION AND ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES A BHW must have completed the DOH Basic Training conducted by an accredited government agency; Must be at least 18 years old as of the date of the filing of the application for registration; To ensure that the board decision made on BHW's registration and accreditation is reflected in a board resolution or in the minutes of the meeting; Comply with the Joint-Memorandum Circular 2023-001 other related policies issued by the DOH and DILG as well as applicable local Ordinances; Assist the appointed BHWs to be registered and accredited by the LHB; Submit the profiles of BHWs to the DILG for encoding or updating the system; Ensure attendance and participation of BHW in all trainings, seminars, orientations, and other similar activities; and Provide voluntary support to the concerned BHWs deployed by the city in any form needed to enable them to carry out their duties, roles, and responsibilities. SECTION 8. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All existing City Ordinances which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed and/or modified. SECTION 9. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - Any provision that may be declared by any competent court to be invalid shall not affect the rest of the provisions not so declared illegal or unconstitutional. SECTION 10. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval and after publication in anpy newspaper of general circulation for three (3) consecutive weeks and posting in two (2) conspicuous places in the City. ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (14th City Council) during its 59th Regular Session held on 13 December 2023 at the SP Session Hall, 4th Floor City Commercial Center Building, Santiago District, Pagadian City.