.
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
798
feenatc
of 9s- 'i’ctra'p
*22 JUL25 A10:29
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER SEVEN THOUSAND 
THREE HUNDRED AND FIVE (R.A. 7305) OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
MAGNA CARTA OF PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 18 Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State affirms 
iabor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and 
promote their welfare.
The passage of Republic Act No 7305, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of 
Public Health Workers, which primarily aims to promote and improve the social and 
economic well-being, the working and living conditions and the terms of employment, 
among others, of our public health workers, was already a great accomplishment.
However, with our recent experience with the COVID-19 pandemic and with 
the challenges we face with the worsening inflation, said legislation has to be amended 
with the primary intention of further increasing the salary, allowances and benefits 
received by the country's public health workers.
This bill seeks to provide for an Expanded Magna Carta for Public Health 
Workers by expanding the coverage of what a public health worker Is. It also provides


for a competitive salary by increasing the entry level salary for all government 
physicians and nurses and by establishing a new salary scale in accordance with the 
Salary Standardization Law. This bill also intends to provide expanded benefits for our 
public health workers by providing them with Special Risk Allowance, Rice Subsidy 
Allowance, Clothing Allowance and an increase in their current Subsistence Allowance 
and Monthly Hazard Pay.
Moreover, this bill also provides for a Loss of Earnings Benefit as a protection 
to our public health workers who suffer injury, illness or quarantine as a consequence 
of the performance of their duty. More importantly, this bill also provides that the 
funding necessary to carry out these provisions be taken from the income derived 
from the Implementation of the Sin Tax Law.
Furthermore, the fine in the penal provision has been increased and any act of 
violation, circumvention or evasion in the provision of benefits to the public health 
worker will be met with administrative and civil sanctions, among others, as what 
other penalties in other appropriate laws may provide.
This legislative measure is a consolidation of related proposals filed In the 18th 
Congress in the House of Representatives which seek to amend RA 7305 with the end 
In view of promoting the welfare of our public health workers.
In order for the state to protect and promote the right to health of the people 
and instill health-consciousness among them, and to adopt an Integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development, we must take very good care of our 
public physicians, nurses, health workers and health care providers. These public 
health workers have saved our peoples7 lives during the onslaught of the CoVidl9 
pandemic and they will continue saving Filipino lives, with or without health crisis or 
emergencies. They deserve to be well compensated and remunerated for the heroic 
role they fulfill every day.


Hence, passage of this Important measure is earnestly sought.
iJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No, 798
^nu'.f£
'^ZF fiBiUr.r of Ulf
■22 JJL25 AlO '29
m-CElVED By; .
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER SEVEN THOUSAND 
THREE HUNDRED AND FIVE (R.A. 7305) OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
MAGNA CARTA OF PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Tide. -This Act shall be known as the ''ExpandedMagna Carta
2 
of Pubiic Heaith Workers Act"
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Sec. 2. - Deciaration of Policy. -
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a) The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall
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protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare;
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b) The State guarantees the entry and retention of qualified and
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competent heath workers in the public health care system by ensuring
8 
the commensurate remuneration for their work loads and the hazards
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of their respective professions.
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Sec. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act Number Seven Thousand Three Hundred and
11 
Five (RA 7305) otherwise known as the "Magna Carta of Public Health Workers" \s
12 
hereby amended to read as follows:
13 
"Section. 3. [Definition] COVERAGE, [For purposcs-ef
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this--Act, "health workers' shall- mean all- persons who ar-c
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engeged-in healtb-and health-related- work, and all persons-
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employed in alf-hespit-alSj-sanitariD, health infirmaries/ health
centers, rural-health-units, barongay health stations; clinic-s­
and other health-related estal^lishments-owned and operated 
by the Government or its poHtieal subdivisions with original
chargers and shell-indude medical, allied health-prefcssionai-,
administrative support personnel employed regardless of thelf
employment-status^! THIS ACT SHALL BE FOR THE 
BENEFIT OF ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS. FOR 
PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, "HEALTH WORKERS" SHALL 
REFER TO PERSONS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN HEALTH 
AND HEALTH-RELATED WORK IN ALL HEALTH 
FACILITY OR OTHER RELATED ESTABLISHMENT 
OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR ITS 
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, INCLUDING MEDICAL 
AND ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, ANCILLARY 
AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL OF SUCH HEALTH 
FACILITY OR RELATED ESTRABLISHMENT, 
REGARDLESS OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT STATUS."
Sec. 4. Section 19 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 19. Salaries. - In the determination of the 
salary scale of public health workers, the provisions of 
Republic Act No. 6758 shall govern, except that the 
benchmark for Rural Health Physicians shall be upgraded to 
grade f24}. " THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) IN 
CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET 
AND MANAGEMENT, IS HEREBY MANDATED TO 
ESTABLISH A NEW SALARY SCALE FOR PUBLIC 
HEALTH WORKERS FOLLOWING THE SALARY GRADES 
UNDER REPUBLIC ACT 1466, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE 'SALARY STANDARDIZATION LAW OF 2019.' 
PROVIDED THAT THE ENTRY LEVEL SALARY FOR ALL 
GOVERNMENT MEDICAL DOCTORS SHALL BE SALARY


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GRADE 26 WHILE THE EMTRY LEVEL SALARY FOR ALL 
GOVERNNMENT NURSES SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 
18.
"x X X."
Sec. 5. Section 20 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 20. Additional Compensation. - 
Notwithstanding Section 12 of Republic Act 6758 and the 
provisions of Republic Act 11466, public health workers shall 
receive the following ADDITIONAL allowances, SPECIAL 
RISK ALLOWANCE, subsistence allowance, RICE 
SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE, longevity pay, laundry and 
CLOTHING allowance, and remote assistance allowance.
"x X X."
Sec. 6. Section 21 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 21. Hazard Allowance. - [Public health workers 
in hospitals, sanitaria, rural health-unitS7-maifl--hGQlth centef:57
health infirmaries, barangay health stationsT-etinics and other
healt-h-felated-establisf>FBents located -fn-diffieult- areas, strife-
torn-or- embattled-area ST-distrossed or-iselated-station5> -prisen
camps,—mental—hospitals,—radiation—exposed—clinies-,-
laboratories or disease infested areas or-in-areas declared
under state of calamity or-emcrgency for the duration thereof
which expose them to great danger, contagion, radiation7
volcanic activity/eruption, oecupational- risk or perils to life as
determined by the Secretary of Health, shall be compensated
hazard allowances-equivalent to at least twenty -five (25%-)-of
the monthly basic salary of health workers- receiving salary
grade 19 and below>-and five percent (5%)-for health workers
with-salary grade 20 and above.]. ALL PUBLIC HEALTH 
WORKERS PERFORMING HEALTH AND HEALTH- 
RELATED WORK REGARDLESS OF WORK LOCATION, 
SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY HAZARD


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ALLOWANCE AMOUNTING TO FIVE THOUSAND PESOS
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(PHP5,000.00): PROVIDED, THAT THIS RATE SHALL
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BE EXEMPTED FORM INCOME TAX: PROVIDED
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FURTHER, THAT THE RATES SHALL BE REVIEWED
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PERIODICALLY AND INCREASED ACCORDINGLY BY
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THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, IN CONSULTATION
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WITH THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
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AND HEALTH WORKERS ASSOCIATIONS,
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ORGANIZATIONS OR UNIONS."
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Sec. 7. Section 21-A shall be inserted after Section 21 of the same Act to read
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as follows:
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"SECTION 21-A. SPECIAL RISK ALLOWANCE, -
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IN CIRCUMSTANCES, SITUATIONS, AND LOCATIONS
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OF WORK WHEREIN THE PERFORMANCE OF THIER
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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES EXPOSE PUBLIC
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HEALTH WORKERS TO GREAT DANGER,
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OCCUPATIONAL RISKS, AND THREATS OF LIFE, AS
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DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH,
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CONCERNED PUBLIC HEALTH WORKER SHALL BE
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ENTITLED TO SPECIAL RISK ALLOWANCE OF AT LEAST
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TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT (25%) OF THE MONTHLY
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BASIC SALARY."
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Sec. 8. Section 22 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Section 22. Public health workers who are required to
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render service within OR IN THE VICINITY OF the premises
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of [hospitalsr sanitaria, health infirmaries/ main health
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eenter-s> FiiraI health units and barangay health stationsy-or
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clinies -and other health-related establishments] HEALTH
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FACILITIES AND OTHER RELATED ESTABLISHMENTS
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in order to make their services available at any and all times,
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shall be entitled to a full subsistence allowance of three (3)
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meals which may be computed in accordance with the


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prevailing circumstances as determined by the Secretary of
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Health in consultation with the Management-Health Workers'
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Consultative Councils as established under Section 33 of this
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Act: PROVIDED, THAT SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE
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SHALL BE COMPUTED NOT LOWER THAN SEVENTY-
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FIVE PESOS (PHP75.00) PER MEAL; Provided,
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FURTHER, that the representation and travel allowance shall
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be given to rural health physicians as enjoyed by municipal
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agriculturists, municipal planning and development officers
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and budget officers."
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Sec. 9. A new Section 21-A shall be inserted after Section 21 of the same Act
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to read as follows:
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"SECTION 22-A. RICE SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE, -
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ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE ENTITLED
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TO A RICE SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE IN THE FORM OF
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CASH AMOUNTING TO ONE THOUSAND TWO
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HUNDRED FIFTY PESOS (PHPl/200.00)//
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Sec. 10. A Section 24 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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"Section 24. Laundry AND CLOTHING Allowance. -
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all public health workers required to regularly wear uniforms
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shall be entitled to laundry AND CLOTHING allowance
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equivalent to [One hundred twenty-five -pesos (P125.-99)]
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FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (PHP500.00) per month:
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Provided, that this rate shall be reviewed periodically and
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increased accordingly by the Secretary of Health In
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consultation with the appropriate government agencies AND
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HEALTH 
WORKERS 
ASSOCIATIONS,
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ORGANIZATIONS OR UNIONS concerned, taking into
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account, existing laws, rules and regulations."
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Sec. 11. A Section 28 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as
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follows:


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"Section 28. [Compensation for lnjur-fcsv-] LOSS OF 
EARNINGS BENEFIT. - Public health workers shall be 
protected against the consequences of employment injuries, 
ILLNESS OR QUARANTINE, in accordance with existing 
law, or regulations. Injuries OR ILLNESS incurred while 
doing overtime work shall be presumed work-connected. 
PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILY, AS 
MAY BE APPLICABLE, ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO LOSS 
OF EARNING BENEFIT (LOEB), EQUAL TO SEVENTY- 
FIVE PERCENT (75%) OF SUCH PUBLIC HEALTH 
WORKER S MONTHLY SALARY, IN CASE OF DEATH, 
PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITY, DISMEMBERMENT, 
PERMANENT LOSS OF SIGHT, HEARING OR SPEECH 
DEFECT, IF THE INJURY OR ILLNESS HAS OCCURRED 
WHILE THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKER IS IN THE 
PERFORMANCE OF DUTY.
"THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKER CONCERNED, 
OR HIS/HER FAMILY, IS ENTITLED TO THE MONTHLY 
LOEB UNTIL THE WORKER SHALL HAVE REACHED 
THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE (65).
"THE ENTITLEMENT TO LOEB IS SEPARATE AND 
DISTINCT FROM WHATEVER THE WORKER OR 
HIS/HER FAMILY SHALL RECEIVE AS DEATH 
BENEFIT, OR LOSS OF INCOME BENEFITS FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS) 
BY VIRTUE OF THE DEATH, SICKNESS OR INJURY".
Sec. 12. Section 38 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Section 38. [Sudget Estimates.—1\\q Secretary- -of 
Health-shall submit-annually the necessary-budget-estimates
to-implement the-j3F0visions of thicks Act in staggered basis
of implementation of the proposed benefits until the total -of


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niRe-hbmdfcd forty-six million 5ix-hundred sixty-foupfehousand
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pesos (PQdGySSdyOOQ.00) is attained within five (5) ycarST--]
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APPROPRIATIONS, - SUCH AMOUNTS AS MAY BE
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DEEMED NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS ACT FOR
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THE CURRENT YEAR SHALL BE CHARGED AGAINST
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THE SAVINGS OF THE DOH. THEREAFTER, THE SUM
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NECESSARY FOR THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF
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THIS ACT SHALL BE SOURCED FORM THE PROCEEDS
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OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10351 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
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THE SIN TAX LAW OF 2012, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
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THE PERTINENT LAWS AND REGULATIONS."
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Sec. 13. A new Section 38-A is hereby inserted to read as follows:
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"SECTION 38-A. BUDGETARY ESTIMATES -
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BUDGETARY ESTIMATES FOR THE SUCCEEDING
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YEARS SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND INCREASED
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ACCORDINGLY BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH IN
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CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET
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AND MANAGEMENT (DBM) AND THE CONGRESSIONAL
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COMMISSION ON HEALTH (HEALTHCOM)."
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Sec. 14. Section 39 of the same Act is hereby amended with an additional
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paragraph to read as follows:
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"Section 39. Pena! Provision, - Any person who shall
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willfully interfere with, restrain or coerce any public health
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worker in the exercise of his/her rights or shall in any manner
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commit any act of violation of any of the provisions of this Act,
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upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than
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[twenty theusand-peses (P20/0OQ7O0) but not more than Forty
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Thousand Pesos (P40,000.00)] FORTY-THOUSAND PESOS
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(P40,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THANT EIGHTY
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THOUSAND PESOS (P80,000.00) or imprisonment of not
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more than one (1) year or both at the discretion of the court.


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"If the offender is a public official, the court, In addition
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to the penalties provided in the preceding paragraph, may
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impose the additional penalty of disqualification from office.
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"ALL 
HOSPITALS, SANITARIA, HEALTH
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INFIRMARIES, HEALTH CENTERS, RURAL HEALTH
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UNITS, BARANGAY HEALTH STATIONS, CLINICS AND
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OTHER HEALTH-RELATED ESTABLISHMENTS OWNED
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AND OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ITS
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POLITICAL 
SUBDIVISIONS WITH ORIGINAL
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CHAPTERS 
THAT WILLFULLY CIRCUMVENT OR
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VIOLATE THE LAW TO EVADE PROVISION OF
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BENEFITS TO PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS WILL BE
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HELD LIABLE. THE PERSON DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE
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AS WELL AS THE HEAD OF AGENCY OR THE LOCAL
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE WILL BE SANCTIONED UNDER
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ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, CIVIL SERVICE LAW AND
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OTHER APPROPRIATE LAWS.
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"LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO
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WILLFULLY CIRCUMVENT OR VIOLATE THE GIVING
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OF SALARY, COMPENSATION, PAY AND ALLOWANCE
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OF PUBLIC RURAL HEALTH PHYSICIANS AND OTHER
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PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AS PROVIDED IN THIS
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ACT SHALL BE A GROUND FOR DISCIPLINARY
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ACTION."
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Sec. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The Secretary of Health after
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consultation with the appropriate agencies of the Government, such as, but not limited
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to, the DBM, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), as well as
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professional and health workers' organizations or unions, shall formulate and prepare
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the revised implementing rules and regulations In accordance with this Act.
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Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision or provision of this Act Is declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected
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thereby shall remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 17. Repealing Clause.-kr\^ law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 18. Effect!vity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the
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date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,