EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
SENATE OF THE PHIQPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
o( liU' fee ivlr.ip
•19 JUL11 All ;13
S. No.
342
RECEiVEuii.
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF NURSES, ASSIGNING AT LEAST ONE 
REGISTERED NURSE FOR EVERY BARANGAY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As a backgrounder, the Philippine economy experienced a surge in growth in 
2001 due to the increased demand for Filipino professionals abroad, foremost of 
which is the demand for registered nurses. This demand for Filipino nurses abroad 
indeed helped to fuel the Philippine economy with the remittances to the country 
sent by the Filipino nurses abroad. 
However, the foreign demand for Filipino nurses 
has waned through the years, thus leaving many of our nurses unemployed and/or 
underemployed here in the Philippines. As of January 2014, the Professional 
Regulation Commission (PRC) estimated that there are at least 300,000 unemployed 
nurses in the country1 and this figure is believed to have increased 5 years hence.
The unemployment and/or underemployment of our nurses here or their non­
deployment for abroad should not be considered a problem, but must be viewed as 
an opportunity. The vast resources of competent Filipino nurses actually presents a 
welcome opportunity for our government to improve the delivery of health services 
in the country, particularly in far-flung barangays normally not catered by the
1 Herrera, E. In need o f nurses and nurses In need. The Manila Times. 24 January 2014.


conventional government health centers. The government may engage the services 
o f the nurses to be at the forefront of the government health care programs.
In this connection, the attached bill proposes that the government mobilize 
and utilize these unemployed or underemployed nurses by dispatching at least one 
registered nurse to every barangay in the Philippines. This will not only address the 
problem of the unemployment and underemployment of our professional nurses, but 
will be considered a leap in improving the health service delivery in the country.
The duties of each dispatched nurse include educating their respective 
barangays on the importance of health, hygiene, sanitation, and wellness. Their goal 
is not only to address the immediate medical needs of the community, but also, 
through education, to prevent illnesses and ailments. 
As Benjamin Franklin once 
said, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
In view of the foregoing, I recommend the immediate passage of this bill.
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No.
342
of I'l?
'19 
JULll 
A1l:14
FLx.l .l'
O 
'
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF NURSES, ASSIGNING AT LEAST ONE 
REGISTERED NURSE FOR EVERY BARANGAY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "A Nurse in Every
2 
Barangay Act of 2019".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policies. -  The State affirms labor as a primary social
4 
economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare.
5 
Towards this end, it is further declared the policy of the State to promote a
6 
sustained and cultivated reservoir of national talents, preserving the skills and
7 
aptitude of our trained professionals, particularly our nurses, through the utilization
8 
and maximization of their medical knowledge that will likewise help promote the
9 
right of the people to health, thereby achieving the realization of a healthy and
10 
productive citizenry.
11 
Sec. 3. Program o f the Employment o f Nurses in Every Barangay. -  There is
12 
hereby established a Program for the Employment of Nurses in every barangay, for
13 
the purpose of improving the delivery of public health care services, and to provide


1 
relevant and timely education on wellness, hygiene, sanitation and other health
2 
safety measures to the poorest communities in rural areas as well as underprivileged
3 
communities in the urban areas, while providing gainful employment to registered
4 
nurses and utilizing their professional competencies.
5 
Sec. 4. Role o f Local Government Units. -  Each local government unit is
6 
mandated to employ one (1) registered nurse in every barangay within their
7 
jurisdiction.
8 
Sec. 5. Recruitment, Selection, and Training. -  The local government units
9 
shall secure the assistance of the Department of Health in recruiting, selecting, and
10 
in training the registered nurses employed by Local government units to ensure their
11 
capability in addressing public health and wellness concerns of the barangays.
12 
For this purpose, the Department of Health is hereby mandated to issue
13 
guidelines setting the qualifications of nurses to be deployed to the barangays as
14 
well as come up with a module for the relevant training of these nurses. The
15 
guidelines to be set shall in no case discriminate against the hiring of fresh
16 
graduates or newly passed registered nurses.
17 
Sec. ^.Minimum Qualification o f Nurses. -  Nurses engaged under the program
18 
shall have the following minimum qualifications: must have a valid RN license issued
19 
by the Professional Regulatory Commission; must be willing to relocate to its
20 
assigned area, even temporarily; and must have passion for public health concerns.
21 
Sec. 7. Stipend. -  Nurses employed under the program shall be entitled to a
22 
monthly stipend preferably equal to salary grade 15, consistent with the mandatory
23 
minimum entry-level pay for government nurses under the Philippine Nursing Act of
24 
2002, or Republic Act No. 9173.
25 
Sec. 8. Certification. -  Nurses under this program are required to provide an
26 
annual health status report regarding the average health and wellness of the


1 
barangay and must provide suggestions to the local government units to improve
2 
the health and wellness of all citizens of the barangay.
3 
Sec. 9. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary to implement the program
4 
under this Act shall be initially appropriated out of the funds of the respective local
5 
government units. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the full implementation of
6 
this program shall be included in the respective budget of the local government units
7 
in the General Appropriation Act.
8 
Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty days (60) from
9 
the effectivity of this Act, the DILG and DOH shall promulgate the implementing
10 
rules and regulations, as may be necessary to ensure the effective implementation
11 
of the provisions of this Act.
12 
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is
13 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions
14 
hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.
15 
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
16 
executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to
17 
the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
18 
Sec. 13. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
19 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general
20 
circulation.
21
Approved,