SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano welcomed the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of the proposed Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), describing the measure as a significant step toward addressing child stunting, one of the country’s most pressing public health concerns.

Cayetano, a co-author of Senate Bill No. 1905, said strengthening and providing adequate compensation for Barangay Health Workers is essential to improving maternal and child healthcare, particularly during the critical early years of a child’s development.

“It’s an honor to see this measure passed today. There is still much to be done, but this is a very significant step,” Cayetano said.

The proposed Magna Carta seeks to strengthen the role of registered BHWs in delivering primary healthcare services by granting them at least P3,000 in monthly benefits, along with transportation and hazard allowances, insurance coverage, mental health services, free legal assistance, loyalty incentives, cash gifts, and expanded training and professional development opportunities.

Cayetano said the measure complements ongoing efforts to reduce child stunting, citing findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) showing that nearly one in four Filipino children remains at risk of stunted growth.

He stressed that stunting is not only a health issue but also a national development challenge because it affects children’s physical growth, cognitive development, academic performance, and long-term productivity.

“The solution to stunting really has to do with the Barangay Health Workers,” Cayetano said, noting that BHWs are often the first to identify pregnant women, monitor children’s growth, detect signs of malnutrition, and facilitate early interventions before health conditions worsen.

The senator cited Taguig City as an example of how strong community-based healthcare programs can significantly reduce child stunting. He credited the city’s Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars for helping achieve the lowest recorded stunting rate in Metro Manila through early pregnancy monitoring, regular child weighing, nutrition counseling, and timely intervention for at-risk children.

Since 2024, Cayetano has consistently advocated stronger national measures to combat child stunting. He authored the proposed Anti-Stunting Action Plan Council Act of 2025, which seeks to establish a high-level, whole-of-government body tasked with developing and implementing a nationwide strategy to prevent and reduce stunting. The measure remains pending at the committee level.

He also authored the proposed Mahal Ko, Barangay Health Worker Ko Law, which was later consolidated into the approved Magna Carta bill. The proposal seeks to institutionalize fair compensation, legal protection, and comprehensive benefits for Barangay Health Workers.

Cayetano said the Senate’s approval of the Magna Carta recognizes the indispensable role of Barangay Health Workers in safeguarding the health of Filipino families, particularly mothers and young children.

While describing the measure as a major milestone, he said lawmakers must continue pursuing complementary reforms to build a stronger and more responsive primary healthcare system at the community level.

According to Cayetano, Barangay Health Workers, barangay nutrition volunteers, and local health centers are just as vital as hospitals and medical specialists in ensuring that every Filipino has access to quality healthcare—especially during the earliest stages of life, when preventing child stunting is most critical.