The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged local government units (LGUs) to further strengthen their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs), citing their continuing role in protecting communities even beyond the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DILG said the call aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to reinforce grassroots health systems and sustain community-based response mechanisms nationwide.
More than 43,000 BHERTs remain active across the country, serving as frontline responders in barangays and helping connect communities to government health services, particularly in areas with limited access to immediate medical care.
As of February 2026, data from the DILG-National Barangay Operations Office showed that 88.83 percent of barangays nationwide had organized BHERTs.
The department said BHERTs continue to support local health programs, assist during medical emergencies, monitor residents, help in vaccination drives, and respond to day-to-day public health concerns at the barangay level.
The DILG added that it continues to organize, reactivate, and capacitate BHERTs through programs such as the BHERT-First Responders In Ending NcOV Diseases (BHERT-FRIENDS) Project, which aims to provide frontline responders with practical guidance, coordination support, and operational tools.
The department emphasized that strong barangay-level health systems remain essential not only during large-scale emergencies, but also in addressing the everyday health needs of Filipino families and communities.
It added that sustained support from LGUs is necessary to ensure BHERTs remain prepared, functional, and responsive as the country continues strengthening its public health system from the grassroots level.