1 AUG_97

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
1* Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 3655

Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP, JOCELYN PUA TULFO, and
ROWENA NINA TADURAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

With the passage of the Universal Healthcare Law, the government is
anticipating massive increase in demand for medical practitioners including nurses
from the government hospitals and other health institutions. While the country saw a
surge in students taking up nursing and other medical course in universities for the
past decade, we were left with question; do they see themselves working here and
serving our country or are they preparing to work abroad?

Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002,
mandated the minimum base pay of nurses working in public health institutions at
Salary Grade 15. However, current minimum salary for nurses ranges from Php 8,000
to Php 16,000, a far cry from the Php 30,000 equivalent of Salary Grade 15. Apart from
the current base minimum salary, nurses also endure high nurse-patient ratio, long
working hours, and other difficulties affecting their working and living conditions.

Same goes with other medical practitioners such as Pharmacists, Speech
Therapists, Physical Therapists, Medical Technicians, Radiology Technicians who
work under the same conditions but are receiving low wages.

These circumstances leave our medical professionals with no choice but to
leave the country and serve in a foreign land due to a more attractive compensation
and benefit packages for them. Consequently, the quality of healthcare delivery in the
country has been suffering due to lack of medical practitioners, not to mention that
the best ones choose to work abroad than serve our countrymen.

This bill seeks to increase the minimum base pay for nurses working in
government hospitals and health institutions to Salary Grade 15 and the minimum
base pay of other medical professionals such as Pharmacists, Speech Therapists,
Physical Therapists, Medical Technicians, Radiology Technicians, and other health
care personnel to Salary Grade 13.

RECEIVED 2



With the rising cost of living and increase in demand for medical attention, our
medical practitioners deserve better from the government.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

ERIC GO YAP

Lhe lf ROWE! TADURAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
1 Regular Session

I 3655

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP, JOCELYN PUA TULFO, and
ROWENA NINA TADURAN

AN ACT
UPGRADING THE MINIMUM SALARY GRADE OF GOVERNMENT
NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the Government's concern and
responsibility to provide adequate renumeration and benefits of health workers
to enhance general welfaré and to attract and retain its rightful share of talents
with the end in view of fulfilling the state policy of providing essential health
services to all Filipinos.

SECTION 2. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all government
compensated nurses and other health care personnel (i.e. pharmacists, speech
therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, medical technicians,
radiology technicians, etc.).

As used in this Act, “nurses” refers to graduates of a degree in Nursing
and duly certified by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) who are
employed by the national government or a local government unit, as the case
may be, either in public health institutions or in any government agency or
instrumentality.

In addition, “health care personnel” shall mean all persons who are
engaged in health and health-related work, and all persons employed in all
hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health establishments owned and
operated by the Government or its political subdivisions with original charters
and shall include medical, allied health professional, administrative, and
support personnel employed regardless of their employment status.


SECTION 3. Upgrading the Minimum Salary Grade Level of all Public
Nurses. - The present minimum salary grade level of public nurses in hospitals,
medical institutions shall be upgraded from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade
15; Provided, however, that the salary upgrading shall be differentiated in
accordance with the qualifications and length of service rendered by public
nurses and shall not be prejudiced by across the board salary adjustments.

SECTION 4. Upgrading the Minimum Salary Graadyievel'o€ other
Health Care Personnel. - The minimum base pay of pharmacists, speech
therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, medical technicians,
radiology technicians, and other health care personnel shall not be lower than
Salary Grade 13.

SECTION 5. Inclusion in the Appropriations Act. - The amount
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be included in the
Genera Appropriations Act for the year following the approval of this Act.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DBM and
DOH, in coordination with other concerned agencies, shall formulate the rules
and regulations to implement this Act within ninety (90) days after its
effectivity.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders and
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof that are inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act
shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspaper
of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,