Ten retiring Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in Bago City received gratuity incentives ranging from ₱13,000 to ₱42,000 based on their length of service during a simple ceremony at the Mayor’s Office on Tuesday, August 11.
Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao led the distribution alongside Councilors Leonilo del Carmen and Robert Javellana.
The initiative was realized through City Ordinance No. 26-07, or “An Ordinance Granting Gratuity to all Qualified Accredited Barangay Health Workers in Bago City,” which provides eligible BHWs a gratuity incentive of ₱1,000 for every year of service. Councilor del Carmen, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Health, authored the measure granting financial recognition to retiring health personnel, a press release from Bago City said Wednesday.
The recipients whose service concluded on June 30 included Soledad Carmona (42 years in service), Gloria Jabagat (41 years), Dorita Pancho (36 years), Elena Bedonia (36 years), Vilma Gamboa (29 years), Gloria Gamboa (29 years), Elma Latido (25 years), Nojas (15 years), Cynthia Alicante (14 years), and Virgenia Jarobel (13 years).
Javellana-Yao expressed deep appreciation for the retirees, noting that institutionalizing gratuity pay for health workers had long been a personal goal to honor her late mother’s memory. She told the honorees that while no amount can equal their decades of hard work, the city government hopes the gesture reflects its gratitude for their dedicated service to the community.
Del Carmen praised the crucial role of BHWs as frontliners who bring basic health services directly to households regardless of the weather. As a personal gesture of appreciation, the physician-legislator also offered free surgical and medical services to the ten retired health workers whenever needed.
Aside from cash incentives, the retirees received official notes of appreciation from the local government unit.
Speaking on behalf of her fellow honorees, Carmona expressed her heartfelt gratitude to city officials, stating that her 42 years of community service were a deeply fulfilling experience she would cherish forever.
Also present at the event were Primary Care Facility Medical Officer IV Dr. Arianne Angeli Panisa, Nurse Supervisor Ceander Rosquillo, BHW Federation President Emily Pagunsan, and Chief of Staff Greg Villegas.*
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