Barangay Health Workers Urge Marcos to Prioritize Magna Carta Bill

Barangay health workers (BHWs) from various cities in Metro Manila have appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize the enactment of the Magna Carta for BHWs, a legislative measure aimed at protecting their rights and improving their welfare. On Tuesday, July 21, representatives of BHWs submitted a letter to Malacañang, urging the administration to make the Magna Carta a priority bill ahead of the President's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). They stated that for over four decades, BHWs have been waiting for the realization of this Magna Carta, which is expected to include provisions for their rights, adequate salaries, and benefits. One BHW shared her experience of serving for 40 years as a volunteer, starting with nothing and never receiving proper compensation, with some colleagues dying without ever seeing better pay. She expressed hope that the Magna Carta, if enacted, would bring benefits to all BHWs. The Marcos administration had previously included the proposed Magna Carta of BHWs as a priority measure of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council in 2023. However, the bill failed to pass before the 19th Congress ended, as the House of Representatives withdrew its version's transmittal. BHWs are now humbly appealing to the President to fulfill his promise of support for their cause. The Magna Carta bill currently in the Senate aims to institutionalize the employment of BHWs and grant them permanent government positions. Instead of just honoraria and flexible benefits, they would be entitled to receive pay equivalent to Salary Grade 1. BHWs are the primary healthcare providers at the barangay level, often burdened with heavy workloads and additional responsibilities not originally part of their job description, all while being compensated as volunteers with meager pay. They are hopeful that this is the opportune moment for the long-delayed Magna Carta to finally become law. Information Source: Rappler Philippines