Herbal gardens to be set up in tribal communities

MANILA, Philippines –  Herbal gardens will become integral parts of tribal communities in the country.

That is, if House Bill 01603 will get past the legislative process and enacted into law as “An Act Institutionalizing the Tribal Health Workers and For other Purposes”.

The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Angelo Palmones of Party-list AGHAM (Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Mamamayan).

As stipulated in HB 01603, the herbal gardens will be established by tribal health workers (THW) in indigenous cultural communities (ICC). THWs are members of ICC who will be trained to render voluntary health service in tribal communities.

“Since the first line of treatment in the ICC relies on traditional medicine such as herbal medicine, it is important and necessary that within each tribal community a herbal garden be developed by the community,” the bill states.

It added: “there is, therefore, a need to establish and institutionalize tribal health workers who would be responsible in providing primary health care in the communities where they reside, thus 24-hour health services can be provided to the tribal communities.”

HB 01603 seeks to institutionalize tribal health workers in the manner of the barangay health workers (BHW), as defined in Republic Act 7883.

BHWs are those who have undergone training programs under any accredited government or non-government organization (NGO) and who voluntarily render primary health care services in the community after having been accredited to function as such by the local health board in accordance with then guidelines promulgated by the Department of Health (DOH).

Under HB 01603, the DOH will also be responsible for the conduct of training to the tribal health workers.

The bill specifies that all tribal communities located about 10 kilometers from the barangay center are qualified to have THW depending on the number of families residing therein.

Every 30 families are entitled to one THW. An additional 20 families within tribal community entitles the community to an additional THW.

The tribal chief shall appoint, in accordance with the traditions of the tribe, the THW and submit his name to the local health board. The board, in turn, shall register the appointed THW to DOH, which shall maintain a national list of tribal health workers.

A THW, according to HB 01603, shall be provided free government health care insurance (Phil-Health Insurance). In addition, the THW shall be entitled to free hospitalization in case of work-related sickness or injury.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall provide the insurance and pay for the hospitalization of a THW.

The THW is also entitled to free tuition in public schools and universities. Such benefit is transferable to one of the THW’s legitimate children.

The Public Attorney’s Office shall provide free legal advice to a THW if she/he needs one arising from or in connection with the exercise of her/his duties and responsibilities.