Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.D999

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS
EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the Department of Health, the Philippines has a ratio of one
doctor for every 33,000 Filipinos. This means that the country is short of 15,000
doctors to be able to adequately meet the health and medical needs of our
countrymen’, It is feared that we will not be able to close this gap anytime soon
because the Philippines is producing only 2,600 doctors a year and Filipino
medical professionals tend to seek greener pastures abroad.

To keep our government doctors from leaving the country, this bill seeks
to adjust their salary from the current Salary Grade 16 (Php28,417.00) to Salary
Grade 24 (Php56,610.00). Aside from the salary increase, government physicians
who have rendered at least three years of service will be given an annual loyalty
pay amounting to 75% of their prevailing one-month base pay. Furthermore, all
public doctors assigned to isolated, depressed, or conflict-torn areas would be
entitled transportation, representation, food, and medical allowances.

In addition to all of these, all public physicians who have rendered at least
five years of continuous service shall be entitled to an educational grant for any
medical course and training here or abroad. Those who will avail the grant are
mandated to return to service at any public hospital for a period to be determined
by the Department of Health,

If enacted, this measure will not only lower the outflow of doctors but will
also attract the youth to pursue a medical career in the country and serve their
fellow Filipinos.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

DV

* Cabato, R, (2016). "DOH Secretary: Philippines lacks 15,000 doctors.” CNN Philippines.
[http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/10/13/department-of-health-lack-of-doctors. html] Retrieved
11 July 2017.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5999

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE SALARY OF, AND ADDITIONAL
INCENTIVES FOR, GOVERNMENT PHYSICIANS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFORE

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

SECTION 1. Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
continuously promote and improve the social and economic well-being of
government physicians as well as their living and working conditions to help
ensure, promote and maintain the delivery of basic health services.

‘SEC. 2. Coverage. - The provision of the Act shall apply to all government
physicians. As used in this Act, government physicians refer to Doctors of Medicine
duly certified by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) who are in the
active practice of medicine, employed by the national government or a local
government unit, as the case may be, either in public health institutions or in any
national government or local government unit, agency or instrumentality.

SEC. 3. Salary Grade Adjustment. - The minimum base pay of physicians
working in government shall not be lower than Salary Grace 24 pursuant to
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Department of Health (DOH)
Joint Circular No. 2013-1 dated September 23, 2013 entitled Revised Standards on
Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern of Government Hospitals.

SEC. 4. Loyalty Service Pay.- An annual loyalty pay equivalent to seventy-
five percent (75%) of the prevailing one (1) month basic salary/base pay of
government physicians shall be given to government physicians who have
rendered at least three (3) years of government service. This will take effect
immediately after the approval of this Act.

SEC. 5. Transportation, Representation, Food, and Medical Allowances.
~ All government physicians assigned to geographically isolated and depressed
areas and conflict areas shall be entitled to the following monthly allowances:


Amount of TA& | Amount of | Amount of
Area of Assignment RA FA MA
Geographically Isolated
Areas (GIDA) P15,000.00 P10,000.00 | P 8,000.00
Conflict Areas P18,000.00 P12,000.00 | P10,000.00

SEC. 6. Educational Grant and Return to Service Program. - All
government physicians who have rendered at least five (5) years of continuous
service in government shall be entitled to an educational grant not to exceed Two
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) for any medical course or training which
may be availed of here or abroad. Provided, that those who have availed of such
grant shall render and participate into a Return of Service of Program at any public
hospital or institution for such period which shall be determined as for as
practicable by DOH and/or institution from which such grant was received.

SEC. 7. Implementing Guidelines. - The DOH, in consultation with the
DBM and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall issue such
implementing guidelines as may be appropriate for the purpose of implementing
the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from the approval thereof.

SEC. 8. Appropriation, - The Government shall appropriate such amounts
as may be necessary to fund the salary increase, allowances and other benefits
provided in this Act. The initial funds required for the implementation of this Act
shall be sourced from the savings of the Executive Department as well as other
possible sources as may be determined by the Office of the President. The funds
necessary for the implementation of the Act in subsequent years shall be included
in the General Appropriations Act to be proposed by the DBM annually.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars,
and memoranda inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause.~ Should any provision of this Act be declared
invalid or unconstitutional, no other provisions hereof shall be thereby affected.

SEC. 11, Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.