QUALIFIED barangay health workers (BHWs) and barangay nutrition scholars (BNS) of the city are set to receive aid pegged at up to P7,000 each.
The City Council has approved two ordinances granting service recognition and financial assistance to BHWs and BNS in the city on second reading on Oct. 6,
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, committee chair on finance, ways and means, and appropriation, reported the measures authored by Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr., with a recommendation for approval.
Dayanghirang said the P7,000 figure is a ceiling, not a guarantee, as the final amount depends on the availability of funds.
The councilor appealed to the City Health Office (CHO) to coordinate with the Local Finance Committee so that funds are included in their budget.
The executive is required to submit the annual budget, estimated at around ₱15 billion, to the Council not later than Oct. 15.
Dayanghirang explained during the session that the committee resolved potential auditing issues by structuring the grant as a performance-based gratuity or pahalipay.
“The barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars are the ones providing vital assistance to the Department of Health and the City Health Office on frontline health programs, ranging from house-to-house vaccinations to monitoring child nutrition in all 182 barangays,” he said.
The councilor said some receive honoraria from their barangays, while others are paid by the city.
The grant is structured as yearly assistance, as monthly payments across Davao City’s barangays would require a huge amount.
Proponent councilor Mahipus said funds had been appropriated for BHWs and BNS in previous years, but the ordinance seeks to increase and institutionalize the assistance.
He will move for a corollary resolution once the ordinance passes on third reading, urging the CHO and the Local Finance Committee to provide sufficient allocation.
Mahipus noted that the city’s Supplemental Budget No. 3 could be tapped if there is a surplus.
“This ordinance does not only seek financial assistance, but it also would like to highlight and recognize the effort of our volunteer workers,” he said.
Meanwhile, he proposed a resolution asking barangay local governments to provide funds, as barangay-paid workers are not covered by the ordinance, citing Commission on Audit issuances that require a separate program for them.
This year, there are 1,047 city-paid BHWS and 18 district coordinators, and 532 city-paid BNS with 18 district coordinators.
A city-paid BHW or BNS receives P6,000 monthly with a local government counterpart of P500 for PhilHealth insurance, while a district coordinator receives P6,400 a month and P500 downloaded for PhilHealth.
