Proposal to provide benefits to BNS, BHW under study

IN order to provide additional benefits to Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHW), the City Council committee on health and sanitation and health insurance chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes Gaane is now reviewing the proposal of the City Health Office to grant financial assistance to barangay workers.

The City Health Office requested the committee to provide all qualified Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) in the city with retirement, disability and death benefits. The City Health Office, likewise, requested for additional Barangay Health Workers.

The Power learned that there are only 150 BNS serving the city.

The City Nutrition Committee (CNC) drafted the proposal and requested the committee to enact the needed legislation for the purpose, The Power learned.

During the meeting last Friday, Councilor Gaane proposed the inclusion of barangay health workers in the proposal, citing that they are also serving constituents of the barangay.

Under the proposal, BNS, upon reaching the optional or mandatory age of retirement of 60 years old and above, shall be entitled to receive a retirement benefit of P1,000 per year of service.

For disability benefits, any BNS who sustain an injury or sickness resulting in disability such as stroke, blindness, paralysis, among others, while serving shall be entitled to receive an assistance of P10,000 regardless of his/her length of service.

The proposal provides that for death benefits, beneficiaries of qualified BNS shall receive a burial assistance of P15,000, provided that a BNS has served at least one year.

As this developed, Councilor Gaane said all the proposals will be consolidated and discussed at the executive level through the creation of a Technical Working Group.

She proposed that Dr. Ramon Moreno, chair of Local Health Board, be included as a member of the TWG. (JBD)