1 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE  
) 
 
 
 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES     
) 
First Regular Session 
 
 
) 
 
 
SENATE 
S. No. _______ 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD “BATO” DELA ROSA 
 
 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS FOR HEALTH WORKERS IN 
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 
 
According to 2019 data from the Department of Health, the Philippines has a 
total of 189,204 Human Resources for Health (HRH) in Private and Public health 
facilities. Of this total number, 66,433 work in private health facilities. While they are 
not as many in number as those who work in government hospitals, in no way does 
this mean that they should have less access to benefits and incentives. In a line of 
work which is service oriented, there should be no distinction as to whether a health 
worker is public and private. Health care transcends all social statuses. 
 
 It was in March 11, 2020 when the World Health Organization formally 
declared the COVID-19 as a pandemic.1 In light of this declaration, the Philippines also 
responded with the knowledge and the limited resources that were available. Among 
the mitigating solutions enacted was the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). 
Under the ECQ, only those whose jobs are considered ‘essential’ may be allowed to 
work. Numbered among those essential workers were the health care workers from 
 
1 Gumbrecht, Jamie, & Howard, Jacqueline. “WHO declares novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic,” 
CNN Philippines. Retrieved from https://cnnphilippines.com/world/2020/3/12/WHO-COVID-19-
pandemic.html, retrieved on April 24, 2020. 
May 18 2020
10:00 a.m.
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2 
both public and private health institutions. This meant that they were exposed to more 
risk and danger, while at the same time working for the protection of all. They are 
called Frontliners in the battle against COVID19. 
 
Given this situation, there is a need to address the obvious. While public health 
workers are protected by Republic Act 7305 or the Magna Carta for Public Health 
Workers, those who work for private health institutions seem to have nowhere and no 
one to turn to except their employers.  
 
Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution expressly states that “it is the duty of 
the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
consciousness among them”. Health workers and their well-being are essential factors 
in protecting the people’s right to health. Laws protecting the welfare of health 
workers must be afforded to all health workers regardless as to whether they are 
publicly or privately employed.  
The COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately shed light on how vulnerable our 
health workers are; especially those in private institutions. It shows that there is a gap 
in the law that needs to be addressed. This bill seeks precisely to bridge that gap by 
granting incentives and benefit packages to private health care workers. A better 
system will be in place that will more effectively uphold the good of the people; 
beginning with the very persons who are in the frontlines of our nation’s health care 
system , with or without a pandemic. 
 
In view of the foregoing, I earnestly seek the swift passage of this bill. 
 
 
RONALD “BATO” DELA ROSA 


 
1 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  
) 
First Regular Session 
 
 
) 
 
S E N A T E  
S. No. ____ 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD “BATO” DELA ROSA 
 
 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS FOR HEALTH WORKERS IN 
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
 
CHAPTER 1 
1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
2 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Private Health Workers 
3 
Incentives and Benefits Act.” 
4 
Section 2. Declaration of Policies. – The State has the duty to protect its 
5 
citizens, and to promote their right to health.  This constitutional mandate ensures the 
6 
general welfare and protection of the people.  Pursuant thereto, it is imperative to 
7 
establish a system where: 
8 
1. A universal access to a comprehensive health care system is guaranteed to all 
9 
citizens, regardless of status, race or religion; 
10 
2. Health workers, whether in the public or private sector, are adequately 
11 
compensated, protected and safeguarded from all forms of abuse and 
12 
discrimination;  
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3. The indispensable role of the private sector, even in the health care system is 
1 
encouraged, and recognized; 
2 
4. As part of the labor sector, and as equally provided for among the members 
3 
of the public health sector, the rights and interests of private health workers 
4 
are protected and guaranteed by the State. 
5 
Section 3.  Coverage of this Act. – The provisions and benefits provided for 
6 
under this Act shall be given to all members of the private health sector. For purposes 
7 
of this Act, “private health workers” shall mean all persons who are engaged in health 
8 
and health-related work in health facilities and other health-related establishments 
9 
wholly owned and operated by private individuals or corporations. It shall include 
10 
medical, allied health professional,  administrative and support personnel including 
11 
maintenance, janitorial and security personnel, employed regardless of their 
12 
employment status. 
13 
Section 4.  Incentives and Benefits for Private Health Workers. – The following 
14 
incentive and benefits shall be given to private health workers subject to limitations 
15 
provided for in this Act: 
16 
 
17 
1. Health Workers Allowance amounting to Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) 
18 
per month shall be given to all private health workers regardless of location 
19 
of work: Provided, That health workers shall receive proportionate amount 
20 
corresponding to the number of days he/she reported for work; 
21 
 
22 
2. In the event of pandemics or health crisis as determined by the Secretary 
23 
of Health, Special Risk Allowance equivalent to maximum of 25% of monthly 
24 
basic salary shall be given to private health workers who have great 
25 
exposure to occupational health risks, perils to life, and physical hardships 
26 
in the line of duty; 
27 
 
28 
3. Subsistence cash allowance shall be granted to all health workers computed 
29 
based on the number of meals included in the duration when they rendered 
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3 
actual work per month: Provided, That subsistence allowance shall be 
1 
computed not less than Seventy Five Pesos (P75.00) per meal;  
2 
 
3 
4.  Living Quarters’ allowance shall be given to private health workers who, by 
4 
nature of their work and gravity of the medical workload being handled,  
5 
shall require them to stay in the hospital premises’ or rented living quarters 
6 
near the hospital where they are employed computed based on the 
7 
prevailing rental rate in the locality: Provided, That in lieu of the cash 
8 
allowance, the employer of private health workers may provide free living 
9 
quarters and housing within or near the premises of health facilities; 
10 
 
11 
5. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, health workers who may be 
12 
injured or contract any disease while in the performance of their duties shall 
13 
be entitled to the amount of One hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00): 
14 
provided, that the amount of One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) shall be 
15 
given to health workers who may die while in the performance of their duty: 
16 
provided, further, that entitlement to allowance for work-related injuries 
17 
and diseases under this Act shall not preclude health workers to claim other 
18 
benefits for the same injury or disease provided for by other laws. 
19 
 
20 
Sec. 5.  Source of Funds. – The initial amount needed to carry out the objectives 
21 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit 
22 
Fund under the General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be 
23 
necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the General 
24 
Appropriations Act. In addition, funds needed for the implementation of this Act may 
25 
be sourced from 30% of the yearly remittances of PAGCOR, under section 7 (a) of PD 
26 
1869, otherwise known as the PAGCOR Charter, and 10% of the 30% of the 
27 
remittances of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), under Section 6 (b) 
28 
of the PCSO Charter, Republic Act 1169, as amended by Batas Pambansa 42. 
29 
 
30 
Section 6.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days after 
31 
the approval of this Act, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the 
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4 
Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with professional healthcare 
1 
organizations and unions, healthcare provider organizations and other stakeholders, 
2 
shall jointly promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of 
3 
this Act.  
4 
 
5 
Section 7.  Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any section or provision of 
6 
this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such other sections or provisions not 
7 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
8 
 
9 
Section 8.  Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
10 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this are hereby 
11 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
12 
 
13 
Section 9.  Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
14 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers or 
15 
general circulation. 
16 
 
 
Approved,