BACOLOD City – Ten retiring barangay health workers (BHWs) in Bago City, Negros Occidental, have received gratuity pay from the city government in recognition of their decades of dedicated service to their communities.
The BHWs, whose service ended on June 30, received between P13,000 and P42,000 each, depending on their length of service, under City Ordinance No. 26-07, which grants qualified accredited BHWs gratuity pay of P1,000 for every year of service.
Bago City Mayor Mayette Javellana, along with City Councilors Leonilo del Carmen and Robert Javellana, led the distribution during a ceremony at the mayor’s office on August 11, 2026.
The recipients collectively represented decades of grassroots health service. They were Soledad Carmona, 42 years of service; Gloria Jabagat, 41; Dorita Pancho, 36; Elena Bedonia, 36; Vilma Gamboa and Gloria Gamboa, 29 years each; Elma Latido, 25; Nojas, 15; Cynthia Alicante, 14; and Virgenia Jarobel, 13.
Carmona, who served as a BHW for 42 years, expressed gratitude to the city government for the assistance and recognition.
“We are very grateful to the city government, ilabi na gid kay Mayora Mayette and Councilor del Carmen, for this gratuity. We are forever thankful, indi gid ini namon malipatan,” Carmona said.
Javellana became emotional as she thanked the retiring health workers, saying the gratuity had long been a personal aspiration and a way of honoring their contributions to the community.
“Dugay ko na ni nga handum to give gratuity sa inyo and that’s my only way to honor my mother’s memory, to take care of you, kay kabalo ko palangga gid kamo ni Nanay,” the mayor said.
She also credited the City Council, particularly Del Carmen, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Health, for pushing for the ordinance that made the gratuity program possible.
Del Carmen paid tribute to the BHWs, describing them as frontline workers who bring basic health services directly to residents, often going house to house despite the heat and rain.
“Pamalaybalay, painit kag paulan para kahatag serbisyo sa aton pumuluyo,” he said.
As a personal gesture of appreciation, Del Carmen also offered the retiring BHWs free operations and other medical services should they need them.
Aside from the financial assistance, the recipients received letters of appreciation from the city government recognizing their years of service.
“While no amount can equal the years you have given, this gesture carries a simple message: We remember. We appreciate. We are grateful,” city officials said.
For the 10 BHWs, the gratuity represents more than financial assistance—it is a public acknowledgment of their years of service to Bago’s communities, often performed quietly and behind the scenes./PN
