Barangay health workers voiced disappointment that the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers was omitted from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address, but welcomed the decision to refer the issue to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s Common Legislative Agenda.
The statement was issued jointly by the National Confederation of Barangay Health Workers of the Philippines and the UNI Global Union–Philippine Liaison Council, representing 277,000 community health workers nationwide.
“Barangay health workers carry the weight of implementing universal healthcare on the ground, yet our sector was noticeably absent from the address,” said NCBHWP President Khonan Dark T. Cerial. “We had hoped for a direct mention, but the palace’s prompt response to our appeal offers renewed hope that our voices are being heard.”
In a letter dated July 27, the Office of the President acknowledged the contribution of barangay health workers to primary care and affirmed their long‑standing demands for fair compensation, benefits, and legal protection.
The letter endorsed the groups’ request to reinstate the Magna Carta in the LEDAC agenda and directed the matter to Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and the LEDAC Secretariat for further action.
The appeal follows a July 21 letter from regional BHW leaders to the palace, urging inclusion of the measure among LEDAC’s priority bills and its certification as urgent.
The palace noted that executive certification of the bill remains premature while companion measures await House committee review, but pledged to monitor legislative developments.
Labor leaders emphasized that the responsibility now lies with Secretary Balisacan and the LEDAC Secretariat to advance the bill’s reinstatement, stressing that institutionalizing fair compensation and legal protections for community health workers is essential for a sustainable universal health care system.
The groups announced plans to keep engaging the Office of the President, the LEDAC Secretariat, and lawmakers in both chambers to expedite committee deliberations and secure swift enactment.
Senate Bill No. 1905, the proposed Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, aims to formalize the role of BHWs within the public health system, create regular plantilla positions, and guarantee just compensation, security of tenure, training access, and career progression.
The measure has passed second reading with amendments; its counterpart in the House of Representatives remains pending at the committee level.
