Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETHENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousEBIL|iNo.  6335
Introduced by Representative Wilbert T. Lee
AN ACT DECLARING MARCH 22 AS A SPECIAL WORKING HOLIDAY T0
HONOR THE HEROISM 0F THE COVID-19 FILIPINO HEALTH CARE
WORKERS AROUND THE WORLD
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Last8March2020,formerPresidentRodrigoDuterteissuedProclamationOrder
No.  922,  which  recognized  the  Coronavirus  Disease  2019  (COVID-19)  crisis  and
placed  our  country  in  a  State  of Public Health Emergency.  On  12  March  2020,  the
World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic.
It was  during this time when the  COVID-19  pandemic  was  spreading to  our
population  and  uncertainty  and  despair  were  the  mood  around  the  world,  that  our
medical frontliners stepped up to keep the world moving forward.
Our health care workers fought to save as many lives as they could working with
whatever  information  and  medical  intervention  they  know  and  the  supplies  and
equipment they have.  The roles that they played have been key to us weathering the
worst of the COVID-19 pandemic as a country, many among them losing their lives in
the line of duty.
On 22 March 2020,  anesthesiologist Dr. Romeo "Greg" Macasaet became the
first health care worker to die of COVID-19. As of January 2022, 29,368 health care
workers contracted COVID-19, from which 117 died.
The Philippines  is  one  of the world's biggest suppliers  of nurses with around
195,000 deployed to work overseas before COVID-19.1  As such, Filipino health care
workers  represent  a  significant  number  on  the  frontlines  of  the  war  against  the
pandemic.
I  Asean Briefing (26 October 2021) How COVID-19 Has Impacted Philippine Medical  WorKer KecruHH
Accessedlast220ctober2022from:https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/how-covid-19-has-impacted-
philippine-medical-worker-recruitment/
1
Philippine Medical Worker Recruitment.


Yet,  despite  the  dangers  and  the  racism  our  COVID-19  heroes  occasionally
experience, they soldiered on to do their jobs and saved lives while risking their own.
Now that our country is transitioning back to pre-pandemic conditions, we must
never forget the lessons of the past and remember those who served our country during
the darkest days of this generation.
It is thus proper that our COVID-19 medical frontliners take their place in our
country's,  and  the  world's  history  and  their  heroism  be  memorialized  to  serve  as
inspiration to future generations of Filipinos.
This bill designates March 22 of every year as a special working holiday to be
known as Filipino COVID-19 Health Care Heroes Remembrance Day (Remembrance
Day).  It tasks the Department of Health to  commission  a design  of the Health Care
Heroes Remembrance Logo (Logo) which shall be used throughout all the events, and
promotionalmaterials,commemoratingtheRemembranceDayeachyear.Pinsbearing
the Logo design shall be produced and distributed to government health care facilities
to be worn for at least a week prior to, and during the, National COVID-19 Health care
Heroes Remembrance Day.  The Logo may be  licensed for  free to other government
offices and private organizations supporting the commemorative events.
The DOH shall serve as the lead agency in the preparation and implementation
oftheannualprogramofactivitiesfortheobservanceoftheNationalCOVID-19Health
Care Heroes Remembrance Day.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousH BILL No.  63 3 5
Introduced by Representative Wilbert T. Lee
AN ACT DHCLARING MARCH 22 AS A SPECIAL WORKING HOLIDAY T0
HONOR THE HEROISM 0F THE COVID-19 FILIPINO HEALTH CARE
WORKERS AROUND THE WORLD
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  Of Representatives  Of the  Philippines  in  Congress
assembled:
1                     See.1. Sfoo# rJ.f/e. This Act shall be known as the "Filipino COVID-19 Health Care
2       Heroes Remembrance Act".
3                   See. 2. Filipino covID-19 Health care Heroes Remembrance Day. haenerhorernee
4       of the heroism of the frontliners during the covID-19 pandemic in the philippines and around
5       the world, the twenty-second (22nd) day of March of every year is hereby declared a special
6      working holiday to be knoun as the National covID-19 Health care Heroes Remembrance
7       Day.
8                    See. 3. He¢//foc¢rc Heroes Remcmbr¢Hce Logo. In honor of our covID-19 medical
9       frontliners, the Department of Health (DOH)  shall commission the design of a Health care
10       Heroes Remembrance Logo (Logo) which shall be approved by the president prior to its use.
11       The Logo shall be used throughout all the events, and promotional materials, commemorating
12       the  Remembrance  Day  each  year.  Pins  bearing  the  Logo  design  shall  be  produced  and
13       distributed to  government healt hcare  facilities to  be  worn for at least a week prior to,  and
14       during the,  Filipino  COVID-19  Health  care  Heroes  Remembrance  Day.  The  Logo  may  be
1


1       licensed  for  free  to  other  goverrment  offices  and  private  organizations  supporting  the
2       commemorative events as provided in this Act.
3                    Sec. 4. Filipino COVID-19 Health Care Heroes Remembrance Day Events.   The
4       DOH  shall  serve  as  the  lead  agency  in  the  preparation  and  implementation  of the  amual
5       program  of  activities  for  the  observance  of the  Filipino  COVID-19  Health  Care  Heroes
6       Remembrance Day.  The  Department of Migrant Workers  shall  also hold  events  around the
7       world for overseas Filipino Health care workers and their families. To ensure the meaningful
8       observance   and   celebration   of  this   day,   the   heads   of  national   goverrment   agencies,
9       goverrment-owned  and  controlled  corporations   involved   in  health  and  education,   local
10       goverrment units, state universities and colleges, and employers in the private sector involved
11       in health and education, are encouraged to allow their respective persormel to participate in any
12       related activity to be held within the premises of their respective offices or establishments.
13              See. 5. j4pprap„.atj.ores. The amount necessary to implement the provision of this Act shall
14       be included in the Armual General Appropriations Act.
15             See.  6.  Scparab#fy  C/¢wsc. If  any  part  or  provision  of  this  Act  shall  be  declared
16       unconstitutional  or  invalid,  other  provisions  hereof  which  are  not  affected  thereby  shall
17       continue to be in full force and effect.
18              See.  7.  j{epe¢/i.fog  CJ¢use. Alllaws,  presidential  decrees,  executive  orders,  rules  and
19       regulations, other issuances, and pats thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of
20      this Act, are hereby repealed or modifled accordingly.
21              See. 8. EJorjorec".tfty. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in
22       three (3) newspapers of general circulation.
23
24       Approved,