Barangay Health Workers Decry Congress Inaction on Magna Carta

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

A national alliance of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) on Thursday, June 12, condemned the 19th Congress for failing to pass the long-awaited Magna Carta bill, calling it a “deliberate abandonment” and “cruel political betrayal.”

House Bill No. 6557 and Senate Bill No. 2838 were approved by their respective chambers last December and February.

Both bills sought to institutionalize an accreditation process for BHWs and provide honoraria, allowances, insurance, training, and other essential benefits.

The House of Representatives initially adopted Senate Bill No. 2838 as amendments to its version, but in a letter dated June 3, 2025, it informed the Senate of its decision to withdraw the adoption and rescind the transmittal of House Bill No. 6557.

Congress adjourned on Wednesday, June 11, without final action on either bill, requiring both to be refiled and reintroduced in the 20th Congress in July.

The National Federation of Barangay Health Workers and the UNI Global Union–Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC) expressed outrage over what they called a betrayal of public health workers.

Myrna Gaite, president of the BHW Federation in the National Capital Region, said BHWs have waited decades for basic recognition.

“Every Congress repeats the same pain of promises left unfulfilled,” Gaite said.

“We have served our communities for nearly four decades—most of us without pay, benefits, or protection. And now, just when the Magna Carta was finally within reach, we’ve been abandoned once again. How much longer must we endure?”

Jamil Mora, the federation’s CALABARZON president, urged fellow health workers to regroup and reignite the movement for the bill’s passage in the next Congress.

“It’s infuriating. It’s heartbreaking. But this is not the end of our fight,” Mora said.

“To my fellow BHWs, let us turn this anger into strength. Let us unite. Let us organize. We will return to the 20th Congress stronger, more united, and more determined than ever to win the respect and recognition we rightfully deserve.”

UNI-PLC President Roland De La Cruz called the delay a failure of government to uphold its own commitment to community health workers.

“This is yet another broken promise to the 251,000 Barangay Health Workers of this country,” De La Cruz said.

“For years, administration after administration pledged to pass the Magna Carta—only to abandon it at the finish line.”

“How can a government claim to value public health when it continuously fails the very workers who uphold it?” he added.

“This isn’t just negligence—it’s betrayal.”