The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution asking Congress to pass the bill granting an increase in the salary of barangay health workers (BHW) as well as compulsory health insurance coverage.

The council expressed its ?strong? support for the passage of Senate Bills 1384 and 1340, both drafted by Sen. Loren Legarda.

Senate Bill 1384 seeks to increase the BHW?s salary and benefits by placing them under salary grade 10, which corresponds to P14,000 a month and a mandatory Christmas bonus.

Senate Bill 1340, on the other hand, seeks to provide compulsory coverage for BHW?s under the National Health Insurance Program. This will entitle the workers to personal health services, including emergency and transfer services, hospital care and other supplementary health benefits.

In his resolution, Councilor Edgardo labella said there is a need to increase the BHWs? salary as they currently receive only P1,000. That?s more than P5,000 below the minimum wage in Metro Cebu.

Labella, who chairs the council?s committee on laws, said the increase and the health insurance are needed by the BHW?s because they are ?extremely vulnerable to health risks, as they are exposed to diseases they confront every day.?

?With the role and presence of these health workers becoming more vital now than ever, especially with the dengue outbreak, the need for increasing their financial heal and insurance coverage has well become more imperative and significant,? said Labella.

?The barangay health workers are the government?s front liners in the entire chain of health care delivery,? he added.

Labella cited provisions of the Local Government Code that mandate the government to uphold adequate and efficient delivery of health services and to promote labor, particularly in the area of health care, as a vital force in maintaining the government?s health care system. (PNA)