The provincial government of Cebu disclosed on Wednesday that over 500 barangay health workers in the province have lost their jobs after the conduct of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

Cebu provincial government consultant Leny Bagol said that they initially received reports that at least 80 barangay health workers were let go, but they were surprised after receiving information that it already ballooned to over 600 BHWs.

She disclosed that in the First District, there were 75 BHWs terminated, while 28 lost their jobs in the second district, 91 in the third district, 84 in the fourth district, 113 in the fifth district, 91 in the sixth district and 97 in the seventh district.

Over at the Fifth District, BHWs who lost their jobs were broken down to 36 in Liloan, eight in Compostela, 17 in Carmen, seven in Sogod, 12 in San Francisco, 14 in Poro and 19 in Tudela.

In terms of municipality, Malabuyoc has the highest number of terminations with 77, followed by Cordova with 56 and Consolacion with 35, while Dumanjug had nine and Badian had 11.

Meantime, Minglanilla registered 30 BHWs who were fired, while San Fernando had 33, Carcar City had 12, Argao with 14, Oslob with eight, Samboan with eight, Aloguinsan with one, Barili with six, Tuburan with 13, Asturias had 18, Balamban with 26, Toledo City with 27, Tabuelan with 12, Medellin with 28, Tabogon with 14 and Madridejos with 30.

Bagol stressed that there are towns that has not yet submitted the report.

She revealed that the provincial government — through Governor Gwendolyn Garcia — has a memorandum of agreement with barangay captains on the termination of the services of BHWs, but it seemed that it has been ignored by the new set of officials.

Last 5 December 2023, the Department of Health issued a memorandum in connection with the termination of BHWs, instructing its regional offices nationwide to "protect" all their barangay health workers.

"We respectfully seek your full support in protecting all registered and accredited BHWs against unjust removal in your respective regions," said the memorandum.

Meanwhile, the Regional Barangay Health Workers Federation of Regional-VII Inc. president Hermelinda Ybanez said that the issue on termination of BHWs is a recurring problem every after barangay and local elections, especially when there is change of leadership.