Barangay health workers urge Marcos: Prioritize Magna Carta before Sona

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — Screengrab from Presidential Communications Office video MANILA, Philippines — The National Confederation of Barangay Health Workers of the Philippines (NCBHWP) and UNI Global Union-Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC), representing the country’s 277,000 barangay health workers (BHWs), requested President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize the passage of the long-delayed Magna Carta of BHWs. The coalition hand-delivered their letter to Malacañang on Tuesday to renew their appeal to Marcos ahead of his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona). A copy of the letter was shared to the Inquirer on Wednesday. Article continues after this advertisement The groups requested Marcos to reinstate the Magna Carta of BHWs as a Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) priority measure, certify the bill as urgent, and explicitly reaffirm his commitment to its passage during his upcoming Sona. READ: Loren Legarda bats for Magna Carta on barangay health workers “In 2023, the president gave renewed hope to hundreds of thousands of BHWs when he publicly committed to supporting our Magna Carta,” said Khonan Dark Cerial, president of the NCBHWP and regional BHW president for Central Visayas. “Today, BHWs are humbly appealing to the president to fulfill his promise,” he added. Cerial said that for over four decades, different administrations had repeatedly made their promise to them of a law that ensures just recognition, adequate benefits, and social protection for BHWs. Article continues after this advertisement “Many of our colleagues have already retired or passed away without ever seeing those protections. We are praying that President Marcos Jr. will be the leader who finally brings this 40-year struggle to a close,” he added. Despite their indispensable role as the primary frontline providers of public health programs, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and in day-to-day community care, BHWs continue to struggle with inadequate support, severe lack of standard financial compensation, and absent social protections. Article continues after this advertisement “Our community health workers are the literal backbone of the primary healthcare system in every single barangay, yet they remain the most vulnerable and underprotected,” UNI-PLC president Roland de la Cruz said. “Securing a legislated Magna Carta is about basic human dignity and labor justice. Fulfilling this commitment will not only honor the dedication of our 277,000 BHWs but will leave a lasting, permanent legacy of justice for the country’s grassroots health workforce,” he added. The proposed Magna Carta of BHWs was a priority legislation during the past 18th and 19th Congress under former President Rodrigo Duterte and current President Marcos. However, the measure was dropped among the 52 priority Common Legislative Agenda bills of the Ledac for the current 20th Congress. READ: Congress hit for failing to pass Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers The proposed Magna Carta for BHWs seeks to institutionalize standardized and just compensation for the more than 277,000 BHWs across the country. It guarantees a minimum monthly honorarium of at least P3,000 for registered BHWs, which shall be adjusted every three years. They shall also receive transportation, subsistence and hazard allowances, insurance coverage, health emergency allowance (HEA) during public health crises, cash gifts, a one-time dedicated service incentive, career advancement support, free legal services and access to government livelihood programs. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. While first-class cities and municipalities can afford to provide higher wages for their BHWs, those in far-flung and low-income areas often receive as little as P50 per month. /das