A LEGISLATOR proposed an ordinance to incentivize barangay health workers (BHWs), barangay nutrition scholars (BNS), and other qualified barangay volunteer workers in the city.
Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr, in his privilege speech on Tuesday, Jan. 27, raised the concern of the BHWs over their non-inclusion in certain benefits and incentives granted to local government employees last December.
Under the proposed ordinance, BHWs, BNS, and other qualified barangay volunteer workers will be granted Service Recognition Financial Assistance, in an amount to be determined by the city government.
“We are calling the members of the council to fund incentives or financial assistance in recognition of our BHWs, para sa umaabot naa silay paaboton,” Mahipus told reporters.
Mahipus said he received reports that a total of 1,046 BHWs in the city were not included in the grant of Gratuity Pay and the Service Recognition Incentive for Calendar Year 2025.
“I firmly believe that frontline workers-those who carry public service to the doorsteps of our constituents-should be given priority in incentives and service recognition,” Mahipus said.
“Barangay health workers are the first line of defense in public health. They deliver services at the community level-often without security of tenure, often without regular compensation-yet always with unwavering commitment,” he added.
Mahipus stressed that while the national fiscal rules issued by the Department of Budget and Management stated only the plantilla positions, JOs, and COs are eligible to receive SRI and gratuity pay, the city government can give recognition to them.
Under DBM Budget Circular No. 2025-3, mandated the grant of the Service Recognition Incentive for Fiscal Year 2025, is expressly limited to government personnel occupying plantilla positions and other recognized employment classifications under national compensation laws.
Similarly, DBM Budget Circular No. 2025-4, which authorized the one-time Gratuity Pay for Fiscal Year 2025, explicitly covers Job Order and Contract of Service workers only.
In both circulars, volunteers are not included. BHWs are not job order workers, contract of service workers, and do not occupy plantilla positions, and are under the law, volunteers.
“Their exclusion from DBM-authorized benefits may be legally correct, but it does not erase their contribution, nor does it extinguish our responsibility, as a local government, to act within our own lawful powers to give recognition where recognition is due,” he stressed.
Under the proposed ordinance, the incentive can be a one-time or periodic financial assistance, as may be determined by the implementing rules.
Asked about the possible amount, the fund is dependent on the available funds of the city government.
“Hopefully, makadawat sila karong 2026 kung maaprubahan kay naa man tay supplemental budget basin pwede ra didto, it will greatly depend on our financial capability,” Mahipus said.
In addition to financial assistance, the city government may provide non-monetary forms of recognition for covered volunteers, including but not limited to certificates, commendations, or public acknowledgment programs
