Pay raise for BHWs proposed

CEBU, Philippines —  A local Cebu City health official has sought higher honorarium for barangay health workers.

Cebu City Health Department (CCHD)’s BHW Coordinator Altea Racuya-Lim said this is needed because the over 900 BHWs working for the city’s 80 barangays work almost 24 hours a day.

“Kinahanglan na gyud nato i-increase ang honorarium sa mga BHWs kay 24-7 man gud ni sila,” Lim said via the City Government’s Sugboanon Channel.

Aside from that, Lim said, BHWs' duties and responsibilities have expanded as well.

Though BHWs in Cebu City are earning more than their counterparts in other areas in Central Visayas, the P7,500 honorarium is still not enough, she said.

Her proposal is to raise the P7,500 to P10,000.

Lim said that BHWs also work under extreme conditions, especially those assigned in far-flung barangays.

“Ilabi na kaning mga BHWs nato sa bukid, layo-layo gyud ang ilang lakwan. Molabang pa gani og sapa unya mosaka pa sa bukid. Luoy gyud kaayo,” she said.

Lim said she first laid out such proposal to the late city councilor and former congressman Antonio Cuenco, Sr. but it did not push through due to his death in 2020 because of Covid-19.

Lim said, she has opened this up to acting Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia, who is receptive of the idea.

“Pero dili pa siya (Garcia) kahatag because dili pa enough atong (City Hall) finances para sa increase. For sure, mangayo sad og increase ang other barangay personnel like tanods, loaders, and drivers,” Lim said.

If the City Government has the fund, it would have to have a third supplemental budget, which should be approved by the City Council.

If there is no available fund, however, for 2024, the proposal would have to be included in the 2025 Annual Investment Plan and the annual budget.

Lim said she plans to work with City Councilor Jocelyn “Joy” Pesquera on the proposal, the latter being the chairperson on the committee on health in the City Council and also a member of the Local Health Board.

Aside from the low pay, Lim said BHWs are also facing several setbacks in their work.

One common challenge that BHWs face, she said, is that they are often the target of political persecution during leadership changes.

“Sad to say nga some BHWs are not allowed inside the health centers kay dili sila kaalyado sa barangay captain,” Lim said.

Lim emphasized the work of BHWs is essential especially that they provide the CCHD with the information of the barangay’s health status.

Mercy Pradero, a BHW for Brgy. Kalubihan for 20 years, said she and her fellow BHWs sometimes get harassed, especially during their work.

The Department of Health awarded Pradero as outstanding BHW during the 2024 Regional Health Promotion Congress for Barangay Workers (RHPCBW) earlier this month.

“Mangadto mi sa area in every sitio. Sometimes, awayon pa (sa mga tawo) dayun gukdon pa sa iro. Ipadakop pa ta o ipa-barangay pa,” she said.

But despite what she experienced over the years, Pradero said her work as BHW has made a difference in her community.

Dr. Magnolia Ngujo, CCHD field program chief, for her part, shared the passage of Republic Act 11223. or the Universal Health Care Act which empowers BHWs to ensure that the constituents they serve are provided with continuous medical care, even before reaching a primary health care facility.

“In this way, mas ma-improve ang health outcomes. Ma-bridge nato ang gap, nga ma-encourage nato ang mga Cebuanos and the Filipinos in general nga moadto sa atong health center because of our BHWs,” she said.

CCHD aims to empower the BHWs through monthly trainings.

 BHWs are also expected to provide preventive medicine services, community outreach and also serve as health promotion officers.

“Moadto sila sa different sitios, mo-help sila og educate. Because of that, we have trained BHWs. Daghan kaayo na sila’g training in a year alone,” Ngujo said.

The BHWs also survey their communities to determine the state of health of their constituents.

Meanwhile, Lim said she was happy of the results of the 2024 RHPCBW as Cebu City’s BHWs secured several victories during the three-day activity.

The City emerged as first runner-up for the performance-based incentive award for BHWs, and received P150,000 for it.

The CCHD also won in the BHW Bida Ka Celebration Contest, Most Outstanding BHW (Mercy Pradero), Binibining Kampion ng Kalusugan 2024 (Jessica Dapac) and the Sayaw Galaw Zumba. (CEBU NEWS)