Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. ________
Introduced by: Hon.  KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR
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.1
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.
1 NMEDS, 2011.
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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.
HON.
KRISTINE
ALEXIE
B.
TUTOR
Representative, 3rd District, Bohol
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. ________
Introduced by: Hon.  KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR
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 2021.”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — Article Il, 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 programs and projects to
the government essential for the growth and health of the nation.” Towards this end, the
2
Magna Carta of Public 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.”3
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).
3 Id.
2 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 or
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 II
16
20
Dentist III
19
23
Dentist IV
22
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 carry 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.
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