Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies in Congress on Friday presented 100 BHWs with P10,000 in cash aid each in recognition of their crucial roles in ensuring the health and safety of their communities during the pandemic.
During the livestream of the Sampung Libong Pag-Asa program on September 24, Cayetano and his wife Taguig 2nd District Rep. Lani Cayetano stressed that BHWs receive little to no benefit from the government despite the importance of their duties.
“To be fair to many senators and members of Congress, marami nang bills dati pa na y’ung tanod, y’ung ating mga nutrition scholars [at] barangay health workers, [at] y’ung ibang nasa daycare na hindi pa ina-aabsorb ng mga cities na nasa barangay ay bigyan ng allowances na medyo sweldo talaga,” Cayetano said.
(To be fair to many senators and members of Congress, a number of bills have been filed providing a reasonable amount of allowances to our barangay guards, nutrition scholars and health workers, and those working in barangay daycare centers.)
“Kaya lang y’ung kakapusan ng pondo n’ung maraming mga LGUs ang problema. But with the Mandanas-Garcia ruling na kung saan daang bilyon ang mapupunta sa LGUs, nag-file y’ung grupo ng bill because it’s a recognition,” he added.
(But the lack of funding for the LGUs is the problem. With the Mandanas-Garcia ruling where LGUs will receive hundreds of billions, we filed a bill as a recognition.)
On August 31, the two Cayetanos and the Balik sa Tamang Serbisyo (BTS) sa Kongreso filed House Bill No. 10112 to ensure that BHWs in the country are integrated into the LGUs’ organization and given proper compensation for their work.
Under the proposed bill, BHWs will also receive a monthly wage and other benefits and be provided additional financial aid and technical assistance, training, and other support to selected LGUs.
“Alam naman natin na kahit na patuloy gumagawa ng tungkulin nila ang mga BHWs, kahit na allowance-based sila, may tunay na pangangailangan ang ating mga barangay health workers. May mga anak silang pinag-aaral, mayroon silang pamilya na kailangang suportahan,” Taguig 2nd District Rep. Ma. Laarni “Lani” Cayetano said.
(We all know that even though our BHWs continue to do their responsibilities, even though they are allowance-based, they have basic needs to provide. They have to pay for their children’s tuition fees and they have families to support.)
Aside from the pre-select BHWs from the cities of Malabon, Navotas, Parañaque, and Caloocan, 50 followers of the program and its previous edition received 10K Ayuda.
The two Taguig Representatives were joined by National Capital Region (NCR) BHW Secretary Rizalyn Rosas, and Navotas City BHW President Ligaya Barnes.
Launched on May 1, the Sampung Libong Pag-Asa program gives P10,000 in financial assistance to select individuals affected by the pandemic.
As of September 24, a total of 11,285 have already received the cash assistance.
Cayetano spearheaded the initiative in order to campaign for the inclusion of the P10,000 financial aid provision under the Bayanihan 3.###