Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

835

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: REP. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR,
Third District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Filipinos are well-known for putting their dental health in the least priority. The 2011
National Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey (NMEDS) conducted by the the
Department of Health (DOH) shows that the prevalence of dental caries (cavities) among all
age groups Filipinos is 87.4%, while 48.3% for periodontal disease.!

‘A majority of the Filipino population is in the rural areas where the income of many is
meager and the access to sufficient dental service is limited. In effect, many of these people
heavily rely on public health services which are given free, save major operations, medicines
and costly dental procedures such as the construction of dentures, restorations, root canal
therapy and major oral surgery.

As it stands, so much more needs to be done to improve the oral health of the country. Up
until today, the dentists-to-patient ratio is at 1:50,000 which particularly makes it difficult for
public dentists to completely reduce. In addition to this, there are only very few licensed
dentists who intend to work in the government given the visible difference in the earnings of

public versus private dental practitioners.

Thus, this legislation seeks to upgrade the salary grades of all government dentists in
recognition of their important role in maintaining and promoting the oral health of the people


and to encourage them to render public service with utmost dedication, commitment and

professionalism.

REP. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo. _835_

Introduced by: Hon. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR
Third District, Bohol

AN ACT
TO UPGRADE THE SALARY SCALES OR LEVELS OF PUBLIC DENTISTS,
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 “Public Dentist Salary
Standardization Act of 2025.”

SECTION 2. Deciaration of Policy. — Articie Ii, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution

provides that “[the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill

health consciousness among them.” Under Section 2 of Republic Act 7305 or the Magna Carta

of Public Health Workers, it is the declared policy of the State to “instill health consciousness

among our people to effectively carry out the health rams and projects to the government
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Health Workers aims to, among others, “promote and improve the social and economic well
being of the health workers, their living and working conditions and terms of employment.”>

Pursuant to these, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to recognize the important
role played by government dentists in maintaining and promoting the oral health of the people.
Thus, the government must ensure that these government dentists are properly compensated
and their working and living conditions continuously improved.

SECTION 3. Coverage. — This Act shall cover all dentists, regardless of employment
status, in all public health institutions, whether nationally or locally funded, as well as those
assigned in or working for national government agencies (NGAs) including. state universities
and colleges (SUCs), government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and local
government units (LGUs).

Section 2, Republic Act 7305, Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, 26 March 1992.

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SECTION 4. Upgraded Salary Scales or Levels. — The following salary scales ot
levels of Dentist position in the government are hereby upgraded upon the effectivity of this
Act:

Position Title Old Salary Grade New Salary Grade
Dentist I 13 17
Dentist IT 16 20
Dentist IIT 19 23
Dentist IV 2 25
Dentist V 24 27
Dentist VI 26 29
Dentist VII 28 30

SECTION 5. Appropriation. — The Government shall appropriate such amount as
may be necessary to cary out the objectives of this Act. Initial funds required for the
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the savings of the Executive Branch of the
government and other possible sources that may be determined by the Office of the President.
The subsequent funds needed shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the
year following the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from
the promulgation of this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for the proper
implementation of its provisions shall be formulated by the appropriate government office or
agency in coordination with all the stakeholders and covered establishments and institutions.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, administrative orders,
rules, regulations, decrees, and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act are hereby revoked, repealed, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue in
operation and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its publication in the Official Gazette or in the two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.