Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1268

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Hazard pay is the additional pay to employees for performing hazardous duty or
work involving physical hardship or potentially dangerous work environment.
Work duty that causes extreme physical discomfort and distress, which is not
adequately alleviated by protective devices, is deemed to impose a physical
hardship.

In the past, a number of government employees have been harmed, and worse,
killed in pursuance of their duties. Worse, occupational related diseases and
injuries are increasing as the economy continues to grow. Workplace accidents
had a slight increase from 2011 to 2013 from 46,655 to 47,440. ' Workplace
injuries are also increasing from 2011 to 2013 (48,957 to 49,118) with
manufacturing industry accounting for the highest share in workplace injuries
(51% to 48%). The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recorded a growth in
occupational diseases across eleven industries. * The steady incline in
occupation related injuries and disease are also speculated to continue as these
industries expand.

In addition, most of government employees who are injured in fulfilling their
duties could not afford the medical treatment. Worse, the families of the
deceased have been unable to afford their departed relatives a decent burial.

Thus, it is only fitting that they be provided compensation for the risks connected
with their duties.

This re-filed version of the bill seeks to provide all government officials and
employees hazard pay especially in cases where they are assigned to areas
such as but not limited to hazardous, isolated and inaccessible environment, x-
ray units, institutions that care for the mentally deranged, places that are subject
to depredation by criminal elements, plants and installations of the arsenal,
aboard aircrafts and watercrafts in crossing bodies of water and other similar
areas.

‘ LABSTAT Updates (Vol. 19 No. 14)
* LABSTAT Updates (Vol. 19 No. 19)


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

Luis MUND/F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1268

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
GRANTING HAZARD PAY TO COVERED EMPLOYEES OF THE GOVERNMENT
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
protect and promote the welfare of public servants by providing them with additional
‘compensation taking into account the nature of their responsibilities and exposure to
hazard or possible dangers pertaining to their positions

SEC. 2. Hazard Pay. - All employees and officials of the Government shall receive

hazard pay when stationed or assigned to work in or under the following
circumstances/ conditions:

a) Hazardous or less hazardous areas, as may be declared as such by the Secretary
of National Defense;

b) Difficult areas or hardship posts characterized by distance, inconvenience of travel
due to bad roads and conditions of the terrain, isolation, inaccessibility and
extreme weather conditions;

c) X-ray units, clinics, laboratories, sanitaria, leprosaria, observation posts and other
similar stations which offer risks to health and safety due to exposure to radiation,
contagious diseases and volcanic activity;

d) Institutions that tend or care for mentally-deranged patients;

e) Places that are subject to depredation by criminal elements as those in prison
reservations and penal colonics without adequate police protection;

f) Plants and installations of the arsenal;

8) Aboard aircraft and watercraft in crossing bodies of water, and


h) Other similar work conditions which the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) shall consider hazardous on the basis of exposure to environment, health
and social risks.

SEC. 3. Coverage. - The benefits provided herein are payable to all government
Officials and employees who are exposed to the conditions mentioned in Section 2
regardless of their status or the nature of their appointment. This Act may also apply
to government employees receiving similar benefits under existing laws, decrees
and/or orders; Provided, That the covered employees shall be entitled to only one
such pay or benefit, whether the hazard pay provided herein or the benefits provided
under the existing laws, decrees and/or laws, whichever is higher

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Civil Service Commission (CSC),
in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), shali
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective implementation of
this act shall be charged against the appropriations of the respective government
agencies where the covered government officials and employees are employed and
hereinafter shall be included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) every year after
its enactment into law.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,