Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7464

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: REP. RAUL V. DEL MAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Existing laws have laid down the policy of protecting nurses and
improving the nursing profession.

Section 2, Article II of Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise known as the
“Philippine Nursing Act of 2002”, declares that “it is the policy of the State to
assume responsibility for the protection and improvement of the nursing
profession by instituting measures thai will result in relevant nursing
education, humane working conditions, better career prospects and a
dignified existence for our nurses.” The State also guarantees the delivery of
quality basic health services through an adequate nursing personnel system
throughout the country.

Value of nurses’ work

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the invaluable role of medical
personnel, especially nurses, in promoting the health and welfare of the
people. Filipino nurses have been renowned for their selfless dedication,
compassion, and diligence in the performance of their duties. Despite the
hazards, our nurses have bravely responded to the call of duty.

This has been graphically shown in the general performance of nurses,
along with other health personnel, in the current coronavirus pandemic. It
has taken a tragedy of global proportion to underscore the value of nurses
and the lack of reciprocal concern of the state for them.

Poor working conditions and lack of career development opportunities
for nurses have remained inadequately addressed to by the Government.


Compelling need

While the Philippines has excellec' in producing a great number of
competent nurses, it has lagged behind, compared to other countries of
comparative economic development to ours, in providing advanced nursing
education programs. Thus, preventing our nurses from taking better career
opportunities here and abroad.

There is compelling need to enhance working conditions and benefits to.
nurses, to further protect and promote their welfare -- and reduce the outflow
of our nurses from our land where they are needed to improve our health care
system. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA),
almost 19,000 nurses leave the country each year for jobs abroad, where they
get higher pay and better working conditions.

Health-care system

By introducing better programs for our nurses, we can elevate our
status to be recognized as a producer of leaders, experts, and authorities in
the field of nursing. We can further ensure adequate nursing personnel in all
private and public hospitals. Epidemic or none, our health-care system
needs to be expanded and strengthened and we need competent and highly
motivated nurses and other medical personnel for that.

The passage of the bill is earnestly sought.

ia


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7464

Introduced by: REP. RAUL V. DEL MAR

AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT 9173, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002, PROVIDING FOR
AN ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM

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

SECTION 1. Short Tile. -The Act shall be known as the “Advanced
Nursing Act of 2020.”

SEC. 2. Section 31 of Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise as the Philippine
Nursing Act of 2002, is hereby amended to read as follows:

SEC. 31. Comprehensive Nursing Specialty and Learning and
Development Programs.Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Board - in coordination with the
accredited professional organization, recognized specialty
organizations and the Department of Health -- is mandated to
formulate and develop a comprehensive nursing specialty
program that aims to upgrade the level of skill and competence
of specialty nurse clinicians in the country, such as but not


limited to the areas of critical care, oncology, renal and such other

areas as may be determined by the Board.

The beneficiaries of this program are obliged to serve in any
Philippine hospital for a period of at least two (2) years of

continuous service.

THE BOARD IS ALSO MANDATED TO DEVELOP ANNUAL
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR NURSES TO
ENSURE CONTINUITY OF ACQUISITION OF NEEDED
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AND TO KEEP ABREAST WITH THE
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NURSING FIELD. BENEFICIARIES OF
THIS PROGRAM ARE OBLIGED TO SERVE THE HOSPITAL FOR
A PERIOD OF AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS
SERVICE FROM CONCLUSION OF THE PROGRAM.”

SEC. 3. Section 33 is hereby amended to read:

SEC. 33. Funding for the Comprehensive Nursing Specialty AND
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. ~The annual
financial requirements needed to train at least ten percent (10%)
of the nursing staff of the participating government hospital shall
be chargeable against income of the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming
Corporation, which shall equally share in the costs and shall be
released to the Department of Health subject to accounting and
auditing procedures: Provided, That the Department of Health
shall set the criteria for the qualified staff to avail themselves of
the program..

THE EXPENSES FOR THE CONDUCT OF ANNUAL LEARNING
AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS SHALL ALSO BE
CHARGEABLE AGAINST INCOME OF THE PHILIPPINE CHARITY


SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE AND THE PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT
AND GAMING CORPORATION, WHICH SHALL EQUALLY SHARE
IN THE COSTS AND SHALL BE RELEASED TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SUBJECT TO ACCOUNTING AND
AUDITING PROCEDURES. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS
ALSO MANDATED TO SET GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATION IN
THE PROGRAMS.

SEC. 4. Section 34 is amended to read:

SEC. Incentives and Benefits. -The Board of Nursing in
coordination with the Department of Health and other concerned
government agencies, association of hospitals and accredited
professional organization shall establish an incentive and benefit
system in the form of FREE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE,
free hospital care for nurses and their dependents, scholarship
grants, STUDY GRANTS, and other non-cash benefits. The
government and private hospitals are hereby mandated to
maintain the standard nurse-patient ratio set by the Department
of health. PROVIDED, NO NURSE SHALL BE REQUIRED TO
WORK FOR MORE THAN EIGHT (8) HOURS. PROVIDED
FURTHER, ANY OVERTIME SERVICE SHALL BE WITH CONSENT
OF THE NURSE.

SEC. 5. Implementing Guidelines. - Within thirty (30) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the Board and the Professional Regulatory Commission,
and other government agencies shall formulate such rules and regulations as
are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. The implementing rules
and regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper

of general circulation.


SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected thereby
shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations and other executive issuances, which are not consistent with
or contrary to the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or amended.

SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of

general circulation.

Approved.