Volunteer health workers in the barangays may apply for special civil service eligibility, the Barangay Health Worker Eligibility (BHWE), which they may use in applying for a permanent position in government.
A Barangay Health Worker (BHW) is a person who has undergone training programs under any accredited government and non-government organization and who voluntarily renders primary health care services in the community upon accreditation by the local health board and in accordance with guidelines of the Department of Health.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) grants the BHWE to qualified applicants pursuant to Republic Act No. 7883, or the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995, which grants benefits and incentives to accredited BHWs in recognition of their services.
The law also provides that, should the BHW later become a permanent employee of the government, his/her volunteer services shall be credited for the purpose of computing retirement benefits.
Meanwhile, the implementing rules and regulations of R.A. 7883 mandates government agencies to give preference to accredited BHWs in the hiring of health personnel, provided that the BHW possesses all of the qualifications and none of the disqualifications for the position being applied for.
The BHWE is considered appropriate for first-level positions in the government, except for 1) Positions under Category I of CSC MC No. 11, s. 1996 and CSC MC No. 3, s. 2008, which require passing the TESDA trade tests; 2) Positions under Category IV of CSC MC No. 11, s. 1996, as amended by CSC Resolution No. 974554, which requires licenses issued by competent authority; 3) Stenographer positions for these require special skills and competencies, and 4) Positions that require passing Board examinations or those which are governed by special laws.
𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The BHWE shall be granted to a Local Health Board-accredited barangay health worker who has completed at least two years of college education leading to a college degree and has voluntarily rendered at least five years of continuous active and satisfactory service as an accredited BHW to the community.
For purposes of the grant of BHWE, services rendered to the community should meet all of the following requisites:
• The services must be voluntary, meaning, the BHW has not been employed and has not received any form of salary or compensation, except honorarium, in the entirety of the five-year period for service requirement. However, BHWs who had been hired by agencies under Job Order status and/or Contract of Service may still qualify for the grant of BHWE.
• The services rendered must be continuous for a minimum period of five years, meaning, the BHW should have served actively and satisfactorily on a full-time basis; and
• The services rendered shall be under the accredited status of the BHW, meaning, the applicant should already have been accredited by the Local Health Board before rendering the five-year service requirement.
Only services rendered starting 20 February 1995, the date of approval of R.A. 7883, shall be recognized.
Applications may be filed with the CSC Regional or Field Office having jurisdiction over the barangay where the applicant has rendered services. The complete list of requirements and application procedures may be accessed from the CSC website at http://www.csc.gov.ph/barangay-health-worker-eligibility….
The CSC has granted the BHWE to 216 volunteer health workers in the last five years.
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