The last tranche of the five-year hike of monthly allowance of accredited barangay (village) health workers (BHWs) and barangay nutrition scholars (BNS) here will be implemented in 2025.

In an interview Monday, City Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, chair of the Committee on Health, said they have approved a resolution raising to PHP5,000 BHWs and BNS’ monthly stipend.

Their current take home is PHP4,500 per month.

The staggered allowance increase started in 2021, when the stipend was at PHP3,500.

The City Council at the time approved the allocation of PHP4.812 million for the City Health Services Office.

“The council sees them as key partners in a reformed health care system, serving as advocates, educators, disseminators, coordinators, record keepers, and health care service providers who work long hours and make personal sacrifices to perform their functions,” Tabanda said.

“There is a need for us to protect the sector that also helps protect us by at least increasing their monthly stipend,” she added. (PNA)