New BHWs report, tension erupts

CEBU, Philippines - Commotion erupted in some barangays in Cebu City yesterday as new barangay health workers took over the barangay health centers.

Association of Barangay Councils president Phillip Zafra said the commotion happened in barangays Punta Princesa and Pamutan, among others.

“First day nila (yesterday) but akong instruction kay they should not be allowed to get inside the health centers because wa man sila’y gamay na lang nga respeto sa mga barangay captains being the executive head of the barangays,” he told reporters.

Zafra said the city government did not coordinate with the barangays in hiring new BHWs. He said the barangay captains should be coordinated with since they are the administrators of their respective barangays.

“Akong gi-advise-an ang atong mga kapitan nga ayaw pasudla kay wa gyu’y courtesy call nato unya wa pud sila’y appointment gikan nato. Siguro, magbuhat sila'g ilang health center,” he said.

He said a confrontation took place between the old and new BHWs in some barangays since the old workers were asked to report for duty yesterday.

Zafra said he does not understand the current administration in terminating the old BHWs, despite the federation gaining award for its accomplishments.

In his barangay Tisa, only four of the 20 BHWs remain.

“Those BHWs have been working for so long. They've been there since the time of my lolo as barangay captain. 1986, some of them are there already. Some of them started as volunteers, karun, unceremoniously, tangtangun,” he said.

He said the barangay should give recommendation on the hired BHWs.

Further, he said he trusts more the experience of the old BHWs who have been serving for several years.

Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, deputy mayor on health, said the new volunteers who are BHWs have undergone training.

She said the City Health Department has assessed all the 540 old BHWs in the city in terms of their performance this year.

With this, she urged barangay officials to give chance to the newly-hired BHWs since it is the prerogative of the executive department to hire them.

“You cannot whimsically and capriciously not let these new BHWs enter. They are there to serve. Palihog lang dili lang nato apilon ang serbisyo sa barangay kay kining BHWs gibutang na dinha. We have trust and confidence that they can serve the respective barangays. Atong tagaan og kahigayunan ug oportunidad ang kining bagong BHWs nga moserbisyo,” she said.

City Health Officer Dr. Alma Corpin, for her part, said her office has evaluated all the BHWs on their performance.

“Every year g’yud ‘ta ga-evaluate. Ang uban edaran na pod. Depende hinuon sa ilang performance g’yud,” she said.

Corpin said some of the new BHWs have reported starting August.

She said there are at least 400 newly-hired volunteers or BHWs. Of the 540 old BHWs, she said there are over 200 who were rehired after they ended their contract in June.

The newly-hired BHWs will not receive honorarium from the city government for six months since one of the requirements to be hired as BHW is to serve the barangay for six months as a volunteer.

Corpin said their office has coordinated with the barangays. She admitted that the change in the administration is one factor that triggered the hiring of new BHWs. —/NSA (FREEMAN)