By Vhioly Rosatazo and Roel Arizala
MALOLOS CITY – A total of 4,232 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) from across the province received a P4,000 quarterly allowance from the Bulacan Provincial Government during the two-day BHW Assembly for the second quarter, held at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in this city on July 2-3.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando highlighted Bulacan’s significant role in the formulation of the Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers and recognized the invaluable contributions of former Provincial Health Office-Public Health (PHO-PH) Chief Dr. Edwin P. Tecson and Provincial BHW Manager Patricia Alvaro-Castro, both of whom served as members of the Technical Working Group of the Senate Committee on Health and Demographics that drafted the landmark measure.
“If we really want to strengthen BHWs in every barangay, it is time for the local and national governments to focus on the welfare and benefits of our BHWs—our Heroes Until the End,” the governor said.
Aside from receiving their quarterly allowance, the BHWs also participated in learning sessions on the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity Campaign, Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance, Community-Based Surveillance, and Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment. The discussions reinforced their vital role in disease prevention, health promotion, and the early detection of illnesses in their respective barangays.
The PHO-PH also recognized outstanding Monthly Major Accomplishment Reports (MMARs) submitted by individual BHWs as well as barangay, city, and municipal health teams.
In addition, the public health office presented its upcoming plans for BHWs, including the implementation of Barangay Health Service NC II training through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in partnership with the Provincial Public Employment Service Office, continued social mobilization activities for the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Campaign, proposed additional incentives for BHW presidents, and the establishment of Barangay Health Worker Registration, Accreditation, and Dismissal Committees (RADC) in municipalities and cities to serve as grievance bodies for BHW-related cases and complaints.
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