AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes (Screenshot from YouTube live)

AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes has slammed the reported removal of over 80,000 barangay health workers (BHWs) by newly-elected barangay officials in the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). 

"Maling mali po ang biglaang pagtanggal sa ating mga BHWs (The sudden removal of our BHWs is very wrong)," Reyes said in a statement. 

Reports said that the 80,000 BHWs were removed “without due process” by the barangay officials. 

"This further highlights the need for a law that will safeguard the rights of our BHWs and ensure that they are protected against unjust removal," added Reyes. 

As such, the pro-health congressman is prodding husfellow lawmakers in the Senate to prioritize the passage of the proposed Magna Carta for BHWs. 

The neophyte House member had earlier filed House Bill (HB) No. 1829, which bats for the magna carta to empower BHWs and provide them with additional health benefits, compensation, and incentives. 

The bill has since been consolidated into HB No.6557, which the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading on Dec. 12, 2022. It has been over a year since the measure's House approval. 

"Primary healthcare services should always be a priority and we hope that giving proper compensation and benefits to our BHWs will encourage more people to serve in our communities, especially in remote areas," Reyes said.