The DOH statement shows a photo of “barangay health workers” attending a campaign rally Thursday in Ilocos Sur province.
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The Department of Health (DOH) in Ilocos has reminded public healthcare workers to avoid engaging in partisan political activities this election season.
The reminder came after alleged “barangay health workers (BHW)” were seen wearing shirts bearing the agency’s initials during a campaign rally.
In a statement Thursday, Feb. 17, the regional DOH strongly reiterated its policy against electioneering involving its employees after “individuals wearing DOH shirts to a campaign rally” during office hours circulated on Thursday morning on social media.
The event referred to was the campaign rally of UniTeam led by presidential bet Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Bantay, Ilocos Sur province on the same day.
The health department clarified that the BHWs in the photos were “health workers employed or directly engaged by LGUs [local government units].”
The photos drew flak from netizens, which immediately called the attention of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Health to investigate the matter.
In a tweet, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said BHWs are under LGUs, and “local chief executives must be admonished against using BHWs for political ends.”
The DOH said BHWs have undergone training programs under accredited government and non-government organizations who voluntarily render primary healthcare services in the community after being accredited to function as such by the local health board.
Accredited BHWs, in performance of their duties, are entitled to receive several benefits from the government under the Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995.
A separate statement by the DOH emphasized that it upholds “political neutrality,” which should be followed by all civil servants.
The DOH clarified that it had distributed a “multitude of shirts and paraphernalia bearing the DOH logo” to health and non-health workers alike as part of its health promotion campaigns and outreach programs.
The health department urged the public not to use government material and paraphernalia that are apolitical to endorse candidates that may cause “misrepresentation.”
Speaking to local reporters after a grand rally in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, Marcos Jr. campaign manager Benhur Abalos noted that they had reminded their allies and supporters to adhere to protocols on government resources this campaign season.
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