The Civil Service Commission (CSC) encouraged Friday, May 21, volunteer barangay health workers to apply for a special civil service eligibility, which they may use to vie for permanent positions in the government.

The CSC said the Barangay Health Worker Eligibility (BHWE) is granted to qualified applicants in pursuant to Republic Act No. 7883, or the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995. The 26-year old law grants benefits and incentives to accredited BHWs in recognition of their services.

"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,” it said in a statement.

The Commission said before the BHWE is granted, 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 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 Feb. 20, 1995, the date of approval of R.A. 7883, shall be recognized,” the CSC said.

It urged qualified volunteer health workers to file their applications at the CSC Regional or Field Office that have jurisdiction over the barangay where they have rendered services.

The Commission said the complete list of requirements and application procedures may be accessed from the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph.

It noted that a total of 216 volunteer health workers were granted the BHWE in the last five years.

R.A. No. 7883 states 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.

The CSC noted that the implementing rules and regulations of R.A. 7883 makes it mandatory for the 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 require licenses issued by competent authority; 3) Stenographer positions for these require special skills and competencies; and 4) Positions which require passing Board examinations or those which are governed by special laws.”