After the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, more than 600 barangay health workers lost their jobs.
This was revealed yesterday by Leny Bagol, Cebu Provincial Government consultant on BHWs.
"From an initial 80 BHWs based on reports, we received, there are now almost 600 BHWs who were fired after the elections," She said.
In the First District 75 BHWs were terminated, 28 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.
In the fifth district, BHWs are 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, then Cordova at 56 and Consolacion at 35.
Dumanjug has nine and Badian with 11. Minglanilla(30), San Fernando(33), Carcar City(12), Argao(14), Oslob(8), Samboan(8),Aloguinsan(1), Barili(6), Tuburan(13), Asturias(18), Balamban(26), Toledo City(27), Tabuelan(12), Medellin(28), Tabogon(14), and Madridejos(30).
However, some towns have not yet submitted the report.
Bagol said Capitol 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 BHWs.
"We respectfully seek your full support in protecting all registered and accredited BHWs against unjust removal in your respective regions," said the memorandum.
The Regional Barangay Health Workers Federation of Regional-VII Inc. president Hermelinda Ybanez told the media that the issue of termination of BHWs is a recurring problem every after barangay/ local elections, especially when there is a change of leadership.
The Senate yesterday conducted a hearing on the Magna Carta for BHWs.