Republic of the Philippines

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louse Bill No. 3120 J INDEX?
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INTRODUCED BY REP. MICHAEL M. MORDEN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF NURSES, ASSIGNING AT
LEAST ONE REGISTERED NURSE FOR EVERY UNSERVED OR
UNDERSERVED BARANGAY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The case for investing in healthcare, especially in the local level, has never
been clearer in this time of a pandemic. The nursing profession in the Philippines

became the frontliner in the fight against the Covid-19 virus.

Although the Philippines has been a large-scale producer of nurses for
domestic and international deployment, Filipino nursing graduates have been
finding difficulties in finding local and overseas employment. What is ironic
however is that, despite the availability of nursing manpower, many rural and peri-
urban areas in the country remain unserved or underserved with the absence of
health workers, resulting in weak health system.

With the country already having a surplus of trained nurses and with limited
employment opportunities locally and a competitive job market abroad, the number
of unemployed nurses has been increasing over the years.

However, rather than treating these vast resources of trained Filipino nurses

as challenging, our government should utilize these human resources to address and


improve the delivery of health services in the country, particularly in far-flung
barangays normally not catered by the conventional government health centers. The
government may engage the services of the nurses to be at the forefront of the
government health care programs.

This bill proposes that the government employ these unemployed or
underemployed nurses and deploy them to every barangay in the Philippines that is
unserved or underserved by health services. Basic maternal and obstetric care
services, pre-natal and pos-natal care services, teen age pregnancy counseling,
family planning and reproductive health, nutrition, registration of live-births,
HIV/AIDS prevention and many other health care services.

Each deployed nurse shall render disease prevention work, basic maternal
and obstetric care, pre-natal and post-natal care, teen-age pregnancy counselling,
family planning and reproductive health education, nutrition, HIV/AIDS
prevention, registration of live births and educate barangay residents on all other
important information on health, hygiene, sanitation, and wellness. Their goal is to
address the basic medical and health needs of the community.

In view of the foregoing, I recommend the immediate passage of this bill.

HON. MIC. M. MORDEN
Abante Pangasinan Iokano (API) Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 3120

INTRODUCED BY REP. MICHAEL M. MORDEN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF NURSES,
ASSIGNING AT LEAST ONE REGISTERED NURSE FOR
EVERY UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED BARANGAY IN
THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Nurses to the Barangay Act of 2022".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. - The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall
protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare. Towards this end, it is further declared the
policy of the State to promote a sustained and cultivated reservoir of national talents, preserving the
skills and aptitude of our trained professionals, particularly our nurses, through the utilization and
maximization of their medical knowledge that will likewise help promote the right of the people to
health, thereby achieving the realization of a healthy and productive citizenry.

Sec. 3. Program of the Employment of Nurses in Every Unserved or Underserved Barangay. -
There is hereby established a Program for the Employment of Nurses in every unserved or
underserved barangay, for the purpose of improving the delivery of public health care services, to
the unserved or underserved barangays in rural areas as well as underprivileged communities in the
urban areas, while providing gainful employment to registered nurses and utilizing their professional
competencies.


Sec. 4. Role of Local Government Units. - Each local government unit is mandated to identify
barangays that are unserved or underserved by health care service and employ one (1) registered
nurse for these barangays within their jurisdiction.

Sec. 5. Recruitment, Selection, and Training. - The local government units shall secure the
assistance of the Department of Health in recruiting, sclecting, and in training the registered nurses
employed by Local government Units to ensure their capability in addressing public health and
wellness concems of the barangays.

For this purpose, the Department of Health is hereby mandated to issue guidelines setting the
qualifications of nurses to be deployed to the barangays as well as come up with a module for the
relevant training of these nurses. The guidelines to be set shall in no case discriminate against the
hiring of fresh 16 graduates or newly passed registered nurses.

Sec. 6. Minimum Qualification of Nurses. - Nurses engaged under the program shall have the
following minimum qualifications: must have a valid RN license issued by the Professional
Regulatory Commission; must be willing to relocate to its assigned area, even temporarily; and must
have passion for public health concems.

Sec. 7. Stipend. - Nurses employed under the program shall be entitled to a monthly stipend
Preferably equal to salary grade 15, consistent with the mandatory minimum entry-level pay for
government nurses under the Philippine Nursing Act of 24 2002, or Republic Act No. 9173.

Sec. 8. Duties. - Nurses under this program are required to provide an annual health status report
regarding the average health and wellness of the barangay and must provide suggestions to the local
government units to improve the health and wellness of all citizens of the barangay. Each deployed
nurse shall render information dissemination on disease prevention, basic matemal and obstetric care,
pre-natal and post-natal care, teen-age pregnancy counselling, family planning and reproductive
health education, nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention, registration of live births and educate barangay
residents on all other important information on health, hygiene, sanitation, and wellness.

Sec. 9. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to implement the program under this Act shall be
initially appropriated out of the funds of the respective local government units. Thereafter, the amount
necessary for the full implementation of this program shall be included in the respective budget of
the local government units.


Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty days (60) from the effectivity of
this Act, the DILG and DOH shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations, as may be
necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 11. Separability Cause. - If any portion o provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be
in force and effect.

Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of
instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

Sec. 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,