.~ 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'14 
AUG 19 P 4 :39 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2366 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV 
AN ACT ASSIGNING ONE REGISTERED NURSE FOR EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE PHILIPPINES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Delivering quality education isn't just a matter of delivering instructional modules inside 
the classroom. Quality education, that every Filipino child deserves, is holistic in nature. It is 
concerned with the whole self - physical, mental and spiritual. 
With a fifth of the Filipino populace under the poverty line, health-related issues of 
school children abound, thus hampering their ability to learn and retain lessons and skills. 
Some students might even be forced to skip school days due to sickness, further impeding their 
ability to learn. 
Thus, this measure proposes that students' access to basic hea Ith care services in 
schools be assured by requiring every public school to employ at least one registered nurse to 
look after the health and nutritional needs of its students. 
Nurses are as important as other support personnel in the school system.1 They attend 
to the physical and mental-health needs of students. They can even spearhead programs to 
promote nutrition and contribute health-related content in the curriculum. 
Having a nurse in every school emphasizes the value of health, nutrition and well-being 
as part of the formation of our Filipino children. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator ~~ig~;; ~ino IV 
1 Roth, Lauren (September 26,2011). "A Nurse in Every School? Not in Florida - Not Even Close," Orlando 
Sentinel. Viewed via http://articles.orlandosentinel.coml20 11-09-26Ibusiness/os-fewer -school-nurses-florida-
2011 0925 _I_school-nurses-practical-nurses-students-with-chronic-illnesses last August 18, 2014. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENA1.E 
S.B. No. 
~366 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV 
Srmdr 
(~H,;' "f t~. ~,atlo' ~ 
'14 
AUG 19 P4 :39 
AN ACT ASSIGNING ONE REGISTERED NURSE FOR EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Nurse in Every Public School 
2 
Act." 
3 
SECTION 2. Dec/aration of Policy. - It is hereby the policy of the State to protect and 
4 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. In 
5 
particular, the State shall provide comprehensive health care services for the children and the 
6 
youth, In order to nurture healthy and productive citizens. Towards this end, it is further 
7 
declared to be the policy of the State to give due recognition to the important role and 
8 
contributions of registered nurses who provide vital health services to our people and promote 
9 
their rights and welfare. 
10 
SECTION 3. Employment of Nurses in Public Schools. - The Department of Education, in 
11 
coordination with the Department of Health and other concerned agencies, shall be mandated 
12 
to employ at least one (1) registered nurse in every public school for the purpose of improving 
13 
the delivery of public health care services and providing relevant and timely education on 
14 
well ness, hygiene, sanitation and other health safety measures to public school students, while 
15 
providing gainful employment to registered 
nurses and 
utilizing their professional 
16 
competencies. 
17 
SECTION 4. Recruitment, Selection, and Training. -
The Department of Education shall 
18 
secure the assistance of the Department of Health in recruiting, selecting, and training the 
19 
registered nurses employed by pUblic schools to ensure their capability in addressing public 
20 
health and well ness concerns of the students. 
21 
22 
For this purpose, the Department of Health is hereby mandated to issue guidelines 
23 
setting the qualifications of nurses to be deployed to public schools and to develop a module 
24 
for the relevant training of these nurses. The gUidelines to be set shall in no case discriminate 
25 
against the hiring of fresh graduates or newly passed registered nurses. 
26' 
SECTION S. Minimum Qualification of Nurses. - Nurses engaged under this Act shall 
27. 
have the following minimum qualifications: must have a valid RN license issued by the 
28 
Professional Regulatory Commission; must be willing to relocate to the assigned area for a 
29 
designated period; and must have passion for public health concerns, 
2 


. • 
1 
SECTION 6. Stipend. - Nurses employed under this Act shall be entitled to a monthly 
2 
stipend equal to salary grade 15, consistent with the mandatory minimum entry- level pay for 
3 
government nurses under Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise known as the Philippine Nursing 
4 
Act of 2002. 
5 
6 
SECTION 7. Appropriation. -
The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
7 
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the current budget of the Department of 
8 
Education. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this 
9 
Act shall be included in the succeeding General Appropriation Act. 
10 
SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty days (60) from the 
11 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education and the Department of Health shall 
12 
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations, as may be necessary to ensure the 
13 
effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
14 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is subsequently declared 
15 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain 
16 
in full force and effect. 
17 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
18 
issuances, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary 
19 
to and inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
20 
accordingly. 
21 
SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
22 
publication either in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
23 
Approved, 
3