Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 4684 x)

Tatroduced by HON. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA
4"™ DISTRICT, BULACAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The State must support the ever growing science and technology as vital aspects of
national development by providing for ample incentives to scientists, engineers, researchers,
experts and other technical manpower personnel.

Presently, however, R.A. No. 8439 entitled: Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers,
Researchers and other Science and Technology in the Government provides, among others, a
hazard allowance ranging from 10% to 30% of the monthly basic salary of science and
technology ($ & T) personnel. The provision for hazard allowance can go down to a
minimum or to a maximum amount of 10% to 30%, respectively. Therefore, the government
can opt to allocate a lower or a higher budget, depending on the availability of funds, thus
demoralizing the ranks of $ & T personnel.

‘The coverage of workplaces as hazardous is limited only to those in the enumeration
and may need updating.

First, this bill seeks to correct the ambivalence of the law in allocating funds for
hazard allowance for § & T personnel by imposing a maximum fixed rate equivalent to 30%
of their monthly basic salary.

Second, in view of the ill-effects of climate change, where S & T personnel may have
to work outdoors, hazardous places should also be amended to include land, air and seas
classified as danger zones and difficult/distressed or hardship posts.

Support for the enactment of this measure is earnestly requested.

REP. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, 4684

Introduced by HON. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA
4™ DISTRICT, BULACAN

AN ACT PRESCRIBING A HAZARD ALLOWANCE OF THIRTY PERCENT (30%) OF
THE MONTHLY BASIC SALARY FOR ALL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
PERSONNEL IN THE GOVERNMENT, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE R.A. No.
8439, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS,
RESEARCHERS AND OTHER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PERSONNEL IN.
GOVERNMENT

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

SECTION 1. Section 7, (c) of R.A. No. 8439 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 7. Other Benefits. ~ Notwithstanding Section 12 of
Republic Act No. 6758, science and technology personnel defined
under Section 5 of this Act shall receive the following:

XXX.

(©) Hazard allowance. - S & T personnel involved in hazardous
undertakings or assigned in hazardous workplaces, shall be paid
hazard allowances EQUIVALENT [ranging from ten percent (10%)]
to thirty percent (30%) of their monthly basic salary [depending on
the nature and extent of the hazard involved]. The following shall be
considered hazardous workplaces:

(1) Radiation-exposed laboratories and service workshops;

(2) Remote/depressed areas;

(3) Areas declared under a state of calamity or emergency;

(4) Strife-torn or embattled areas;

(5) Laboratories and other disease-infested areas;

(6) WORK AREAS ON LAND, AIR AND SEAS THAT
ARE HIGH DANGER ZONES TO NATURAL
HAZARDS;


(7) DIFFICULT/DISTRESSED OR HARDSHIP POSTS
XXX

SEC. 2. Appropriations. ~ The initial amount necessary to implement the provisions
of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST).

Thereafter, the funds necessary to fully implement this Act shall be included in the
General Appropriations Act (GAA) under the budgetary appropriations of the DOST.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repea led,

amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,