TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 JUU4 P^O -/H
SENATE 
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NURSING SCHOLARSHIP AND RETURN SERVICE 
PROGRAM FOR DESERVING STUDENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution Article II Section 15 states that it is hereby 
declared the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. Section 16 further states that 
the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful 
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
The World Health Organization (WHO) report on Nursing and Midwifery 
published on May 3, 2024 highlighted that, "Nurses and midwives play a pivotal role 
in improving health and contributing to the wider economy. Investing in them is 
imperative to achieve efficient, effective, resilient and sustainable health systems. 
They not only provide essential care but also play a critical role in shaping health 
policies and driving primary health care. Nurses and midwives deliver care in 
emergency settings and safeguard the sustainability of health systems globally."1 The 
report also outlined the following data:
• There is an estimated 29 million nurses worldwide;
Nursing and midwifery


• 
WHO estimates a shortage of 4.5 million nurses by the year 2030;
• 
The aforementioned figures will bring the global shortage of health workers 
estimated for 2030 to 4,8 million nurses and midwives;
• 
Nursing and midwifery occupations represent a significant share of the 67% 
global female workforce;
• 
More than 80% of the world's nurses work in countries that are home to half 
of the world's population. And one in every eight nurses practices in a country 
other than the one where they were born or trained;
According to the Department of Health (DOH), it will take twelve (12) years for 
the Philippines to solve our shortage of nurses totaling to approximately 127,000 
nurses required to be able to provide optimal healthcare.2
While data presented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in March 
2022 showed that there existed around 126,044 gap to meet the number of required 
nurses as benchmarked by the World Health Organization.3
Nurses play a critical role in health promotion, disease prevention and delivering 
primary and community care. They provide care in emergency settings which will be 
key to the achievement of universal health coverage. Achieving health for all will 
depend on there being sufficient numbers of well-trained and educated, regulated and 
well-supported nurses and midwives, who receive pay and recognition commensurate 
with the services and quality of care that they provide.4
This bill intends to establish the Nursing Scholarship and Return Service (NSRS) 
program to deserving Filipino nursing students on the condition that they will render 
three (3) year mandatory return service and integration into the public health service 
system on top of their mandatory internship program through the DOH.
2 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1764748/doh-it-will-take-12-years-for-ph-to-solve-shortage-of-nurses-23-years- 
for-doctors
3 https://www.philstar.eom/headlines/2023/03/30/2255659/ched-proposes-shorter-nursing-programs-address- 
shortage
44 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/nursing-and-midwifery


This strategy also aims to contribute to the effort in achieving and maintaining 
the Ideal number of practicing nurses in the public health sendee system and
augmenting our health human resources in pursuit of the ideals of the Universal Health 
Care Law for all Filipinos.
In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended.
OY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
14 
:/o
SENATE 
s. No. 4G5
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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AN ACT
nSIS?«LISHING A NURSING SCHOLARSHIP AND RETURN SERVirP
F0R DESERVING STUDENTS and APPRoSlNG funds
Congr^saSlamU^:y thS 
and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Act".
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Nars Para Sa Bayan
Sec. 2. Policy Statement. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them. The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a 
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
It is further deciared the policy of the State to assume the responsibility for the 
protection and improvement of the nursing profession by instituting measures that will 
result in relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, better career 
prospects and a dignified existence for our nurses.
The State hereby guarantees the delivery of quality basic health services 
through an adequate nursing personnel system throughout the country through the 
formulation and implementation of policies and strategies for the appropriate 
generation, recruitment, retraining, regulation, retention and reassessment of the 
health workforce making it more attuned to the needs of the population. It is also the


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declared policy of the State to promote social justice by expanding access to quality 
education and creating opportunities for underprivileged individuals.
Towards this end, the State shall establish a nursing scholarship and return 
service program that will help deserving nursing students pursue nursing education 
and training in the field of health and medicine who shall eventually render services 
m government public health offices or government hospitals in their hometown or in 
any municipality in their home province or in underserved municipality in any province 
as part of their integration in to the public health service system. This shall ensure 
the availability of nurses who wiil provide quality basic, promotive, preventive and 
curative health care services in every municipality in the country, especially the
underserved, remote, economically underdeveloped, distressed, conflict-afflicted, and 
geographically disadvantaged areas.
Sec. 3. Establishment of the Nursing Scholarship and Return Service Program.
-There shall be established a Nursing Scholarship and Return Service (NSRS) Program
for deserving students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) or in partner private
higher education institutions (PHEIs) in regions where there are no SUCs offering
nursing course. Provided, That the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) may
designate more than one (1) partner higher education institutions (HEIs) in the region,
including regions where there are existing SUCs offering the Bachelor of Science in
Nursing program as deemed necessary, upon consultation with the Department of 
Health (DOH).
In all cases, qualified applicants from municipalities without sufficient number 
of government nurses shall be prioritized in the allocation of scholarship slots to ensure 
the assignment of at least (1) nurse for every municipality in the country.
Sec. 4. Coverage. - The NSRS Program established under this Act shall be made 
available to deserving Filipino students who want to pursue a degree in Bachelor of
Science in Nursing. The student financial assistance for the NSRS Program shall include 
the following:
a) Free tuition and other school fees;
b) Allowance for prescribed books, supplies and equipment;
c) Clothing or uniform allowance;
d) Allowance for dormitory or boarding house accommodation;


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e) Transportation allowance;
f) Internship fees, including financial assistance during mandatory internship;
g) Nursing board review fees;
h) Licensure fees;
i) Annual medical insurance; and,
j) Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowance.
Sec. 5. Qualification Requirements. - An applicant for the NSRS Program must
possess the following qualifications;
a) Must be Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines; and,
b) Must have obtained a passing grade in the entrance examination 
recommended for prospective nursing students administered by the SUCs or 
PHEIs where the student intends to enroll in.
Sec. 6. Conditions for the Grant of Scholarship. - Deserving students accepted 
to the NSRS Program shall be subject to the following conditions:
a) Must sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the scholarship
on a form prescribed by the CHED and the DOH pursuant to the provisions 
of this Act;
b) Must carry full load of subjects prescribed per semester by the SUC or PHEI
and shall not, under any circumstance drop a course which will result in 
underloading;
c) Must finish the entire BS Nursing program within the prescribed time frame 
of the SUC or the PHEI where the scholar is enrolled in, subject to the 
retention policies of the SUC or the PHEI: Provided, That the deserving 
student accepted to the NSRS Program, before actual enrollment in the first 
semester as a scholar, may be allowed for valid and justifiable reasons, to 
defer enrollment or to file a leave of absence: Provided, further, That a 
scholar who is already enrolled, may be allowed, for valid and justifiable 
reasons, to file a leave of absence;
d) Must undertake the mandatory internship in the SUC's or PHEI's base 
hospital on the last year of the BS Nursing Program: Provided, That in the 
event that no more slots are available in such SUC's or PHEI's base hospital, 
the mandatory internship program must be undertaken in a DOH-accredited


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public health facility or hospital or any accredited government health facility 
or hospital, subject to compliance with the requirements of the association 
which credits such internship program;
e) Must take the board examination within a maximum period of one (1) year 
after completion of the mandatory internship program; and,
f) Must render return of service as provided under Section 8 of this Act;
The scholar who fails to pass the licensure examination within one (1) year 
after graduation and completion of the mandatory internship and other 
academic requirements shall shoulder all the necessary expenses for the 
succeeding professional licensure examinations;
Sec. 7. Disqualifications. - The scholarship grant shall terminate, and the 
scholar shall repay the full cost of scholarship and related benefits received, including 
all the expenses incurred during participation in the scholarship program in case of 
the following circumstances:
a) If the scholar accepts another scholarship from other government or private 
agency or entity while enjoying the benefits under this Act;
b) If the scholar fails to meet the academic requirements or to complete the 
course within the prescribed period without valid cause as may be 
determined by the SUC or PHEI, or the CHED or DOH through appropriate 
regulations, such as but not limited to, absence without notice, willful neglect 
or other causes within the control of the scholar;
c) If the scholar fails to obtain a passing grade in the Nursing Licensure 
Examination (NLE) within five (5) years from the time the scholar has 
completed the mandatory internship program: Provided, That instead of 
repaying the full cost of the scholarship and related expenses, the scholar 
whose scholarship has been terminated under Section 7B or 7C of this Act 
may opt to engage in work within the public health service system, such as 
engaging in health-related research work for the government or teaching 
health-related subjects in a public educational institution, or being integrated 
into the public health service system for a period prorated to the number of 
years of mandatory return service provided under this Act: Provided, further, 
That the alternative return service shall exclude the period of mandatory


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internship and residency training that is undertaken in a private health 
institution or facility; and,
d) While being a scholar, the scholar commits gross misconduct in a manner 
that would bring significant damage to the SUC or PHEI concerned or to the 
community as a whole.
Sec. 8. Mandatory Return Service and Integration of the Schoiar into the Pubiic 
Heaith Service System. - Upon passing the NLE administered by the Professional 
Regulation Commission (PRC) and conferment by the PRC of the license to practice 
nursing, the scholar shall be integrated into the public health service system through 
the DOH and shall receive the appropriate civil service rank, salary and related 
benefits. The scholar shall serve in a government public health office, government 
hospital or any accredited government health facility in the scholar's hometown or, in 
the absence of a need thereat, in any municipality within the scholar's home province, 
or in any underserved municipality closest to the scholar's hometown determined by 
the DOH as a priority area, for at least one (1) year for every scholarship year availed 
of. Provided, That scholars from municipalities with no government nurses shall render 
the return service work in the scholar's hometown: Provided, further, That the scholar 
who assumed the slot intended for a resident of another municipality, no resident of 
which qualified to be a scholar under this Act, shall render the return to service work 
in the same municipality where the slot was originally intended; Provided, finaiiy. That 
in all cases, the scholar shall only be required to serve in such municipality if no threat 
to the scholar's life is present.
The scholar shall render the mandatory return to service within three (3) years 
from the time of passing the NLE: Provided, however. That in times of pandemic or 
public health emergency, the DOH may require the scholars to serve in any public 
health office or a government hospital where their services may be needed: Provided, 
further. That the mandatory return service and integration into the public health 
service system under this Act shail be separate and distinct from the mandatory 
internship required prior to taking the licensure examination for nurses: Provided, 
furthermore. That the number of years served by the scholar in the public health 
service system as part of the return service requirements if any, of the SUC or PHEI 
concerned, or health or medical research within the Philippines in a public institution


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or any international organization accredited by the DOH for work for the 
underprivileged areas within the Philippines, or full-time teaching in a public institution 
shall be counted in the required number of years of return service under this Act: 
Provided, finally, That the nurses shall receive appropriate salaries and other benefits
for service rendered under the mandatory integration into the public health service 
system.
Sec. 9. Sanctions. - A nurse who has availed of the NSRS Program but fails or 
refuses to comply with the mandatory return service and integration provided under 
the Act shall be required to pay two (2) times the full cost of scholarship, including 
other benefits and expenses incurred by reason of participation in the NSRS Program.
In case of non-payment, as provided in the preceding paragraph, the PRC shall 
deny the renewal of the license: Provided, That the above-mentioned penalties shall 
not apply to nurses who fail to comply with the required return service on account, or 
by reason of, severe or serious illness.
Sec. 10. Harmonization of all Nationally-Funded Nursing Scholarship Programs.
Upon the effectivity of this Act, all nationally-funded nursing scholarship programs 
shall be harmonized rationalized and consolidated under the NSRS Program. The 
harmonization, rationaiization and consolidation of scholarship programs under the 
NSRS Program shall be in coordination with the UNIFAST Board created under RA 
10687 or the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education 
(UniFAST) Act.
Sec. 11. Training While Serving the Mandatory Return Service. - The CHED and 
DOH shall develop programs for the continuous training of scholars while serving the 
mandatory return service under this Act.
Sec. 12. Nursing Schools and PiantiHa Positions. — In order to have a holistic 
solution and address the scarcity of nurses in the country, the CHED, in coordination 
with the DOH, shall ensure that each region shall have at least one (1) nursing school. 
For this purpose, the CHED shall also streamline the requirements for the application 
for authority to offer BSN. The CHED and DOH shall also issue the appropriate 
guidelines within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act to facilitate the 
partnership between SUCs and DOH hospitals with a view of increasing the number of 
nursing schools throughout the country with one (1) region having at least one (1)


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State-operated nursing school: Provided, That within three (3) years from the 
effectivity of this Act, there shall be a state-operated nursing school in at least half of 
the regions with no existing state-operated nursing school; Provided, further, That 
within five (5) years form the effectivity of this Act, there shall be at least one (1) 
state-operated nursing school in each region in the country.
In addition the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), DOH and local 
government units (LGUs) where applicable, shall ensure that all scholars required to 
render return service under this Act shall be appointed to appropriate plantilla 
positions commensurate to their merit and fitness;
Sec. 13. Roie of the CHED. - The CHED shall perform the following functions in 
the implementation of the NSRS program;
a) Conduct regular information dissemination of, and recruitment to the NSRS 
program in SUCs and PHEIs to ensure that there will be an adequate number 
of nurses in all the municipalities and provinces;
b) Review modify and enhance the nursing education curriculum standards to 
prepare graduates to work in community-based health grams in to ensure 
that nurses that nursing programs remain up-to-date and of comparable 
quality to nursing education in other countries;
c) Together with the DOH, develop programs for the continuous training of 
scholars while serving the mandatory return service under this Act;
d) Coordinate with the DOH, SUCs and PHEIs for the integration of the nursing 
scholar into the public health service system;
e) Formulate, promulgate, disseminate and implement the necessary policies, 
standards, guidelines and rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of the NSRS program under this act;
f) Deveiop strategies to improve the quality of the nursing program and 
implement a system of quality control for the offering of BS Nursing Program 
in SUCs and PHEIs;
g) Require SUCs and PHEIs to implement and submit a tracking, monitoring, 
evaluation and assistance system in order to determine the whereabouts of 
the nursing scholars after graduation from SUCs and PHEIs;


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h) Ensure the timely and adequate release to partner SUCs and PHEIs of the 
funds necessary for the implementation of the NSRS program and monitor 
the timely and adequate release of the same by the partner-SUCs and PHEIs 
to the scholar-beneficiaries under the NSRS program; and,
i) Recommend in coordination with partner SUCs and PHEIs to the DBM the 
amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 14. Role of the SUCs and PHEIs. -The SUC and PHEIs shall perform the 
following functions in the implementation of the NSRS Program:
a) Monitor the progress of all scholars in their respective educational 
institutions, identify those who have low or failing grades and counsel them 
to improve their academic performance;
b) Coordinate with the CHED to ensure the timely release and accurate 
distribution of allowances and other fees to the scholars;
c) Make an annual report to the CHED on the performance of nursing scholars 
and other necessary or vital information regarding the NSRS program;
d) Assist the CHED in the conduct of regular information dissemination on and 
recruitment to the NSRS program;
e) Review, modify and enhance the nursing education curriculum to prepare 
the scholars to work in community- based health programs to ensure that
nursing education programs remain up to date with recent medical 
developments;
f) Recommend strategies to CHED and DOH to improve nation the 
implementation of the NSRS program;
g) Conduct a tracer study on the whereabouts of their respective nursing 
scholars after graduation from their institution and submit the results 
thereof to the CHED;
h) Recommend to the CHED and the DBM the budget necessary to implement 
the NSRS program in their respective institutions , based on their projected 
capacity and evaluation of the adequacy of the funding under the Program; 
and,
i) Perform such other functions as may be deemed necessary for the success 
of the NSRS program.


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Sec. 15. Role of the DOH. - The DOH shall perform the following functions in 
the implementation of the NSRS program:
a) In coordination with the CHED, SUCs, and PHEIs, determine the initial 
number and distribution of nurses needed for each municipality or province 
which determination shall be made every five (5) years from the effectivity 
of this Act;
b) Ensure that ail regions in the country have at least one level one (1) Level 
III DOH hospital to ensure the availability of a possible partner or base 
hospital of nursing schools;
c) Ensure the integration of scholars into the public health service system and 
monitor their performance during the mandatory return service period;
d) Assist the CHED in the conduct of the regular information dissemination on 
the NSRS Program and in the recruitment of scholar-applicants;
e) Craft a career pathway for nurses who are beneficiaries of the NSRS 
program in the public health service system to incentivize scholar-nurses to 
continue serving therein;
f) Coordinate with the LCDs for the mandatory integration of scholar-nurses 
into the public health services system; and,
g) Recommend to the DBM the creation of piantilla positions for scholar-nurses 
with salary grades commensurate to their educational achievement, training 
and other qualifications.
Sec. 16. Role of LGUs. - LCDs are mandated to support the integration of the 
scholar into the public health service system by performing the foilowing functions:
a) Create a mechanism or system to provide the necessary support including 
support to ensure their safety and protection, for the integration of nurses 
who will be assigned to the LGU;
b) Coordinate with the DOH and the nurses to determine the specific health 
needs or requirements of the community and provide the necessary 
assistance, including invoivement in the research component of the nursing 
service system;


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c) As far as practicable and subject to availability of funds, maintain a regular 
counterpart fund to be used for providing the balance of the scholarship 
budget for scholars enrolled in SUCs or PHEIs;
d) Provide other forms of financial assistance, subject to availability of funds, 
to support the integration program of nurses in the LCDs;
e) Recommend to the CHED any strategies to improve the implementation of 
the NSRS program;
f) In Coordination with the CHED, SUC or PHEI concerned, conduct an 
information dissemination campaign on the NSRS program within the
municipality or province with the objective of attracting qualified applicants 
to the said program;
g) Execute and enforce laws, ordinances and regulations which may, directly 
or indirectly, have a positive impact on the NSRS program; and,
h) Perform all other acts to assist the scholar to ensure that the scholar finishes 
the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program within the time frame provided 
by the nursing school or the CHED.
Sec. 17. Funding. - The amount necessary to carry out the implementation of 
this act shall be charged against the current years appropriation of the participating 
SUC, DOH and CHED.
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of the 
nursing scholarship provided under this act shall be included in the scholarship 
program of SUCs and CHED in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 18. Transitory Provisions. - Upon the effectivity of this Act, current scholars 
under the existing nursing scholarship programs of the DOH and CHED shall 
automatically be eligible to avail the benefits under this Act.
Sec. 19. Joint Congressionai Oversight Committee on NSRS Program. - There 
is hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and 
evaluate the implementation of this Act.
The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five (5) members each from 
the Senate and from the House of Representatives, and shall include the following:
a) Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational 
Education;
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b) Chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education;
c) Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography;
d) Chairperson of the House Committee on Health; and,
e) Three (3) members each to be chosen from the membership of the Senate 
Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education and the House 
Committee on Higher Technical and Vocational Education, and the House 
Committee on Higher and Technical Education by the Senate President the 
House Speaker respectively: Provided, That at least one (1) member from 
the respective nominees of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
shall be chosen from the minority party.
Sec. 20. Determination of Number and AHocation of Schoiars to be Admitted- 
Every five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH and CHED shall, upon 
assessing the shortage of health human resource workforce in the country against the 
ideal standards and the National Health Human Resource Masterplan created under 
Section 23 of Republic Act 11223 or the "Universal Health Care Act", and the upon 
consultation with participating SUCs and PHEIs, the DBM and the PRC, determine the 
number and geographical location of scholars to be admitted every school year 
allocating at least one (1) scholarship slot in municipalities without government 
nurses: Provided, That in determining the allocation quota of the scholars to be 
admitted to the Program, utmost priority is given to regions with low nurses-to- 
population ratios: Provided, further. That in order to ensure an adequate number of 
competent human resource for health for the entire country the DOH shall submit to 
Congress the National Health Human Resource Master Plan, and any updates thereto 
in accordance with the Universal Health Care Law.
Sec. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within one hundred and 
twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the CHED and the DOH shall, in a 
coordination with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, 
Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations, League of Municipalities, 
Association of Municipal Health Officers, Non-Government Community-Based Health 
Programs, PRC, DBM, SUCs, PHEIs, associations of nursing schools and nursing 
students and other relevant stakeholders, formulate and issue the rules and 
regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act: Provided, That the absence
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Of the implementing rules and regulations shall not affect the effectivlty of this Act 
snd the grant of benefits provided herein.
Sec. 22. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is heid invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 23. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
modified, or amended accordingly.
Sec. 24. Effectivlty. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,
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