OVER 2,500 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in Misamis Oriental were surprised to receive an increase in their honorarium during the 33rd BHW annual convention at the provincial capitol last week.
From their regular P1,000 yearly honorarium, the Provincial Government raised it to P1,500 which only happened in the administration of Governor Yevgeny Emano.
This amount is the capitol's counterpart as these BHWs are also receiving their stipend from their respective villages.
"Malipayong midawat sa ilang miusbaw nga honorarium ang kaniadto gipasagdan nga mga BHWs sa kanhi namunuan sa kapitolyo (The BHWs happily received their increased honorarium)," the capitol said in its daily briefer.
Emano said these workers who volunteered to serve the people in their community must be given attention and support.
"Kining mga BHWs dili perming mahatagan sa kahigayonan ug atensyon, bisan pa nga isa sila sa mga kawani sa kabarangayan nga naghatag sa serbisyo, ulan ug init ngadto sa katawhan isip volunteers (These BHWs were not always given opportunities and attention even if they are part of those who render service to the public as volunteers)," Emano said.
During the whole-day convention, the governor has raffled appliances such as television, washing machine, rice cooker, among others.
The governor also picked 60 BHWs who receive P500 each and 20 more workers to receive P1,000 each.
The capitol spent around P6 million for the convention with the theme "BHW, boluntaryo ug malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Kahimsog."