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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE P H ILIP P IN E S
First Regular Session
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•19 AUG20 P4 :08
SENATE
S.B. NO. 949
RECtlVLDbt;
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN CULTURAL AND
INDIGENOUS COMM UNITIES BY IN S T IT U T IO N A LIZ IN G THE TR A IN IN G
AND EMPLOYMENT OF TRIBAL HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article II, Sections 15 and 22, provides:
"Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them."
"Section 22. The State recognizes and promotes the rights of
indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national
unity and development."
Our indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) lack of access to basic services
especially healthcare is still a continuing problem. This is mostly due to the fact
that ICCs are settled in far-flung areas which make it difficult for them to avail of
the benefits of modern medicine and healthcare and sequentially makes them
susceptible to serious health problems and complications.
This proposal seeks to establish and institutionalize the training of tribal health
workers. Their designation is intended to help complement the existing efforts of
barangay health workers and the DOH in providing primary healthcare in their