MITCH M. LIPA
The provincial government-funded insurance program for village workers has been expanded to cover barangay health workers serving the frontlines in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.
Capitol cited that the BHWs, just like the medical frontliners, are exposed to similar risks as they render services amid the health pandemic.
Under the expanded Barangay Insurance Program, 20 BHWs for each village have a P100,000 death coverage due to accident and P50,000 for natural causes while on duty.
The BIP is an institutional program of the provincial government for barangay workers for decades.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson announced the BIP expansion Monday, March 15, during the distribution of checks worth P1.1 million for barangay tanods who are insurance beneficiaries at the Capitol Social Hall.
Immediate family members of 21 insured tanods, barangay officials and employees who died last year received the checks.
The BIP was established 20 years ago as a recognition of the important role of village officials, tanods and barangay employees in assisting the government in the implementation of peace and order, and their exposure to risks and danger.
It specifically aims to provide life insurance coverage to qualified officials and employees to provide socio-economic interventions for their families in times of need.
Lacson said that to expand the program and coverage this year, the provincial government executed a new Memorandum of Agreement with LGUs and barangays to increase the maximum number of tanods per barangay from 20 to 25.
He also reminded everyone to continue to observe health and safety protocols at all times. – MML
