Cebu City Passes BHW Ordinance for Job Security and Better Benefits
Cebu City has taken a significant step towards formalizing and protecting its Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) with the passage of the BHW Welfare and Protection Ordinance. The ordinance, awaiting Mayor Nestor Archival's signature, aims to enhance the roles and rights of BHWs, who have long faced issues like low pay and job insecurity.
The ordinance establishes the Cebu City Barangay Health Workers Registration and Accreditation Committee (CC-BHW-RAC) to oversee BHW registration, accreditation, and deployment. To be accredited, a BHW must have completed basic training from the Department of Health (DOH) or a recognized partner, with a deployment standard of one BHW per 20 households. BHWs can only be removed or suspended after due process and for specific reasons such as gross misconduct or abandonment of duty.
The ordinance mandates a comprehensive benefits package for registered BHWs, including hazard and subsistence allowances, training programs, civil service eligibility, free legal services, and access to loans. It also guarantees a P1,000 pay increase starting in 2026. Moreover, the law creates a City BHW Grievance and Tenure Protection Committee to handle complaints and protect BHWs from unfair removal. Additionally, it mandates the creation of a city-wide Federation of Barangay Health Workers, giving BHWs a formal voice in policymaking.
Once signed by Mayor Archival, the ordinance will become effective, and the City will draft implementing rules and regulations. For the first time, BHWs in Cebu City will enjoy formal job protection, standardized benefits, and stability, addressing long-standing complaints and professionalizing their roles while shielding them from political influence.
