Bacolod City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City seeks to amend an ordinance that would increase the monthly allowance of barangay health workers to P7,000.
An ordinance amending Section 1 of City Ordinance No. 956, Series of 2021 titled “An Ordinance Amending Section 1 of City Ordinance No 913, Series of 2019 titled An Ordinance Amending Section 4 of City Ordinance NO.623, Series of 2012 titled An Ordinance Increasing the Allowance of The Barangay Health Workers (BHWS) in the City of Bacolod, was passed by the SP on first reading Wednesday.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Claudio Puentevella, chair of the SP Committee on Health, said the Department of Health (DOH) recommends a ratio of one barangay health worker per 20 households. However, BHWs in reality typically deal with 200 to 300 households.
Upon review of City Ordinance No.956, series of 2021, the current monthly allowance of P4,500 is not sufficient to meet the current demand of prices of basic commodities, it said.
The salary increase is one way of expressing our appreciation to our front-liners who have tirelessly worked to ensure that every Bacolodnon is provided with the proper health care, the ordinance said.
It said Section One (1) of City Ordinance No. 956 which reads: The Barangay Health Workers of Bacolod City shall receive a monthly allowance of P5,500 shall be amended as: The Barangay Health Workers of Bacolod City shall receive a monthly allowance of P7,000. (Chrysee Semillano via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)