NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2342
^cnare
of iI;? 
rrftnrj;
23 JUL24 PI :25
RtCEiVED BY;
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.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report on Nursing and 
Midwifery on 18 March 2022, there is a global shortage of health workers, in particular 
nurses and midwives., who represent more than 50% of the current shortage in health 
workers.1
WHO estimates that the world need an additional 9 million nurses and midwives 
this year 2023 for all countries to reach Sustainable Development Goals 3 on health 
and well-being.2
1 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/nursing-and-midwifery
2 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/nursing-and-midwifery
1


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.3
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.4
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.5
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.
This strategy also aims to contribute to the effort in achieving and maintaining 
the ideal number of practicing nurses in the public health service system and 
augmenting our health human resources in pursuit of the ideals of the Universal Health 
Care Law for all Filipinos.
3 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1764748/doh-it-will-take-12-years-for-ph-to-solve-shortage-of-nurses-23-years- 
for-doctors
4 https://www.philstar.eom/headlines/2023/03/30/2255659/ched-proposes-shorter-nursing-programs-address- 
shortage
55 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/nursing-and-midwifery


In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended.
JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2342
Ot - C : Ttnri’
23 JUL24 PI :26
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NURSING SCHOLARSHIP AND RETURN SERVICE 
PROGRAM FOR DESERVING STUDENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
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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 uNars Para Sa Bayan
Act"
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 declared 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


1 
declared policy of the State to promote social justice by expanding access to quality
2 
education and creating opportunities for underprivileged individuals.
3 
Towards this end, the State shall establish a nursing scholarship and return
4 
service program that will help deserving nursing students pursue nursing education
5 
and training in the field of health and medicine who shall eventually render services
6 
in government public health offices or government hospitals in their hometown or in
7 
any municipality in their home province or in underserved municipality in any province,
8 
as part of their integration in to the public health service system. This shall ensure
9 
the availability of nurses who will provide quality basic, promotive, preventive and
10 
curative health care services in every municipality in the country, especially the
11 
underserved, remote, economically underdeveloped, distressed, conflict-afflicted, and
12 
geographically disadvantaged areas.
13 
Sec. 3. Establishment of the Nursing Scholarship and Return Service Program.
14 
- There shall be established a Nursing Scholarship and Return Service (NSRS) Program
15 
for deserving students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) or in partner private
16 
higher education institutions (PHEIs) in regions where there are no SUCs offering
17 
nursing course: Provided, That the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) may
18 
designate more than one (1) partner higher education institutions (HEIs) in the region,
19 
including regions where there are existing SUCs offering the Bachelor of Science in
20 
Nursing program as deemed necessary, upon consultation with the Department of
21 
Health (DOH).
22 
In all cases, qualified applicants from municipalities without sufficient number
23 
of government nurses shall be prioritized in the allocation of scholarship slots to ensure
24 
the assignment of at least (1) nurse for every municipality in the country.
25 
Sec. 4. Coverage. - The NSRS Program established under this Act shall be made
26 
available to deserving Filipino students who want to pursue a degree in Bachelor of
27 
Science in Nursing. The student financial assistance for the NSRS Program shall include
28 
the following:
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a) Free tuition and other school fees;
30 
b) Allowance for prescribed books, supplies and equipment;
31 
c) Clothing or uniform allowance;
32 
d) Allowance for dormitory or boarding house accommodation;


1 
e) Transportation allowance;
2 
f) Internship fees, including financial assistance during mandatory internship;
3 
g) Nursing board review fees;
4 
h) Licensure fees;
5 
i) Annual medical insurance; and,
6 
j) Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowance.
7 
Sec. 5. Qualification Requirements. - An applicant for the NSRS Program must
8 
possess the following qualifications;
9 
a) Must be Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines; and,
10 
b) Must have obtained a passing grade in the entrance examination
11 
recommended for prospective nursing students administered by the SUCs or
12 
PHEIs where the student intends to enroll in.
13 
Sec. 6. Conditions for the Grant of Scholarship. - Deserving students accepted
14 
to the NSRS Program shall be subject to the following conditions:
15 
a) Must sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the scholarship
16 
on a form prescribed by the CHED and the DOH pursuant to the provisions
17 
of this Act;
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b) Must carry full load of subjects prescribed per semester by the SUC or PHEI
19 
and shall not, under any 
circumstance drop a course which will result in
20 
underloading;
21 
c) Must finish the entire BS Nursing program within the prescribed time frame
22 
of the SUC or the PHEI where the scholar is enrolled in, subject to the
23 
retention policies of the SUC or the PHEI: Provided, That the deserving
24 
student accepted to the NSRS Program, before actual enrollment in the first
25 
semester as a scholar, may be allowed for valid and justifiable reasons, to
26 
defer enrollment or to file a leave of absence: Provided, further, That a
27 
scholar who is already enrolled, may be allowed, for valid and justifiable
28 
reasons, to file a leave of absence;
29 
d) Must undertake the mandatory internship in the SUC's or PHETs base
30 
hospital on the last year of the BS Nursing Program: Provided, That in the
31 
event that no more slots are available in such SUC's or PHETs base hospital,
32 
the mandatory internship program must be undertaken in a DOH-accredited


1 
public health facility or hospital or any accredited government health facility
2 
or hospital, subject to compliance with the requirements of the association
3 
which credits such internship program;
4 
e) Must take the board examination within a maximum period of one (1) year
5 
after completion of the mandatory internship program; and,
6 
f) Must render return of service as provided under Section 8 of this Act;
7 
The scholar who fails to pass the licensure examination within one (1) year
8 
after graduation and completion of the mandatory internship and other
9 
academic requirements shall shoulder all the necessary expenses for the
10 
succeeding professional licensure examinations;
11 
Sec. 7. Disqualifications. - The scholarship grant shall terminate, and the
12 
scholar shall repay the full cost of scholarship and related benefits received, including
13 
all the expenses incurred during participation in the scholarship program in case of
14 
the following circumstances:
15 
a) If the scholar accepts another scholarship from other government or private
16 
agency or entity while enjoying the benefits under this Act;
17 
b) If the scholar fails to meet the academic requirements or to complete the
18 
course within the prescribed period without valid cause as may be
19 
determined by the SUC or PHEI, or the CHED or DOH through appropriate
20 
regulations, such as but not limited to, absence without notice, willful neglect
21 
or other causes within the control of the scholar;
22 
c) If the scholar fails to obtain a passing grade in the Nursing Licensure
23 
Examination (NLE) within five (5) years from the time the scholar has
24 
completed the mandatory internship program: Provided, That instead of
25 
repaying the full cost of the scholarship and related expenses, the scholar
26 
whose scholarship has been terminated under Section 7B or 7C of this Act
27 
may opt to engage in work within the public health service system, such as
28 
engaging in health-related research work for the government or teaching
29 
health-related subjects in a public educational institution, or being integrated
30 
into the public health service system for a period prorated to the number of
31 
years of mandatory return service provided under this Act: Provided, further,
32 
That the alternative return service shall exclude the period of mandatory
4


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internship and residency training that is undertaken in a private health
2 
institution or facility; and,
3 
d) While being a scholar, the scholar commits gross misconduct in a manner
4 
that would bring significant damage to the SUC or PHEI concerned or to the
5 
community as a whole.
6 
Sec. 8. Mandatory Return Service and Integration of the Schoiar into the Public
1 
Health Service System. - Upon passing the NLE administered by the Professional
8 
Regulation Commission (PRC) and conferment by the PRC of the license to practice
9 
nursing, the scholar shall be integrated into the public health service system through
10 
the DOH and shall receive the appropriate civil service rank, salary and related
11 
benefits. The scholar shall serve in a government public health office, government
12 
hospital or any accredited government health facility in the scholar's hometown or, in
13 
the absence of a need thereat, in any municipality within the scholar's home province,
14 
or in any underserved municipality closest to the scholar's hometown determined by
15 
the DOH as a priority area, for at least one (1) year for every scholarship year availed
16 
of: Provided, That scholars from municipalities with no government nurses shall render
17 
the return service work in the scholar's hometown: Provided, further, That the scholar
18 
who assumed the slot intended for a resident of another municipality, no resident of
19 
which qualified to be a scholar under this Act, shall render the return to service work
20 
in the same municipality where the slot was originally intended: Provided, finaliy. That
21 
in all cases, the scholar shall only be required to serve in such municipality if no threat
22 
to the scholar's life is present.
23 
The scholar shall render the mandatory return to service within three (3) years
24 
from the time of passing the NLE: Provided, however. That in times of pandemic or
25 
public health emergency, the DOH may require the scholars to serve in any public
26 
health office or a government hospital where their services may be needed: Provided,
27 
further. That the mandatory return service and integration into the public health
28 
service system under this Act shall be separate and distinct from the mandatory
29 
internship required prior to taking the licensure examination for nurses: Provided,
30 
furthermore. That the number of years served by the scholar in the public health
31 
service system as part of the return service requirements if any, of the SUC or PHEI
32 
concerned, or health or medical research within the Philippines in a public institution


1 
or any international organization accredited by the DOH for work for the
2 
underprivileged areas within the Philippines, or full-time teaching in a public institution
3 
shall be counted in the required number of years of return service under this Act:
4 
Provided, finally, That the nurses shall receive appropriate salaries and other benefits
5 
for service rendered under the mandatory integration into the public health service
6 
system.
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Sec. 9. Sanctions. - A nurse who has availed of the NSRS Program but fails or
8 
refuses to comply with the mandatory return service and integration provided under
9 
the Act shall be required to pay two (2) times the full cost of scholarship, including
10 
other benefits and expenses incurred by reason of participation in the NSRS Program.
11 
In case of non-payment, as provided in the preceding paragraph, the PRC shall
12 
deny the renewal of the license: Provided, That the above-mentioned penalties shall
13 
not apply to nurses who fail to comply with the required return service on account, or
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by reason of, severe or serious illness.
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Sec. 10. Harmonization of all Nationally-Funded Nursing Scholarship Programs.
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- Upon the effectivity of this Act, all nationally-funded nursing scholarship programs
17 
shall be harmonized rationalized and consolidated under the NSRS Program. The
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harmonization, rationalization and consolidation of scholarship programs under the
19 
NSRS Program shall be in coordination with the UNIFAST Board created under RA
20 
10687 or the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education
21 
(UniFAST) Act.
22 
Sec. 11. Training While Serving the Mandatory Return Service. - The CFIED and
23 
DOFI shall develop programs for the continuous training of scholars while serving the
24 
mandatory return service under this Act.
25 
Sec. 12. Nursing Schools and PiantiHa Positions. - In order to have a holistic
26 
solution and address the scarcity of nurses in the country, the CHED, in coordination
27 
with the DOFI, shall ensure that each region shall have at least one (1) nursing school.
28 
For this purpose, the CFIED shall also streamline the requirements for the application
29 
for authority to offer BSN. The CFIED and DOFI shall also issue the appropriate
30 
guidelines within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act to facilitate the
31 
partnership between SUCs and DOFI hospitals with a view of increasing the number of
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nursing schools throughout the country with one (1) region having at least one (1)


1 
state-operated nursing school: Provided, That within three (3) years from the
2 
effectivity of this Act, there shali be a state-operated nursing schooi in at least half of
3 
the regions with no existing state-operated nursing school: Provided, further, That
4 
within five (5) years form the effectivity of this Act, there shail be at ieast one (1)
5 
state-operated nursing schooi in each region in the country.
6 
In addition the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), DOH and locai
7 
government units (LGUs) where appiicabie, shail ensure that all scholars required to
8 
render return service under this Act shail be appointed to appropriate piantilla
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positions commensurate to their merit and fitness;
10 
Sec. 13. Role of the CHED. - The CHED shaii perform the foilowing functions in
11 
the impiementation of the NSRS program;
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a) Conduct regular information dissemination of, and recruitment to the NSRS
13 
program in SUCs and PHEIs to ensure that there wiii be an adequate number
14 
of nurses in aii the municipaiities and provinces;
15 
b) Review modify and enhance the nursing education curricuium standards to
16 
prepare graduates to work in community-based heaith grams in to ensure
17 
that nurses that nursing programs remain up-to-date and of comparable
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quality to nursing education in other countries;
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c) Together with the DOH, deveiop programs for the continuous training of
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schoiars whiie serving the mandatory return service under this Act;
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d) Coordinate with the DOH, SUCs and PHEIs for the integration of the nursing
22 
schoiar into the pubiic heaith service system;
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e) Formuiate, promuigate, disseminate and implement the necessary policies,
24 
standards, guidelines and ruies and reguiations for the effective
25 
implementation of the NSRS program under this act;
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f) Deveiop strategies to improve the quality of the nursing program and
27 
impiement a system of quaiity controi for the offering of BS Nursing Program
28 
in SUCs and PHEIs;
29 
g) Require SUCs and PHEIs to impiement and submit a tracking, monitoring,
30 
evaiuation and assistance system in order to determine the whereabouts of
31 
the nursing scholars after graduation from SUCs and PHEIs;


1 
h) Ensure the timely and adequate release to partner SUCs and PHEIs of the
2 
funds necessary for the implementation of the NSRS program and monitor
3 
the timely and adequate release of the same by the partner-SUCs and PHEIs
4 
to the scholar-beneficiaries under the NSRS program; and,
5 
i) Recommend in coordination with partner SUCs and PHEIs to the DBM the
6 
amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.
7 
Sec. 14. Role of the SUCs and PHEIs. -The SUC and PHEIs shall perform the
8 
following functions in the implementation of the NSRS Program:
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a) Monitor the progress of all scholars in their respective educational
10 
institutions, identify those who have low or failing grades and counsel them
11 
to improve their academic performance;
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b) Coordinate with the CHED to ensure the timely release and accurate
13 
distribution of allowances and other fees to the scholars;
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c) Make an annual report to the CHED on the performance of nursing scholars
15 
and other necessary or vital information regarding the NSRS program;
16 
d) Assist the CHED in the conduct of regular information dissemination on and
17 
recruitment to the NSRS program;
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e) Review, modify and enhance the nursing education curriculum to prepare
19 
the scholars to work in community- based health programs to ensure that
20 
nursing education programs remain up to date with recent medical
21 
developments;
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f) Recommend strategies to CHED and DOH to improve nation the
23 
implementation of the NSRS program;
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g) Conduct a tracer study on the whereabouts of their respective nursing
25 
scholars after graduation from their institution and submit the results
26 
thereof to the CHED;
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h) Recommend to the CHED and the DBM the budget necessary to implement
28 
the NSRS program in their respective institutions , based on their projected
29 
capacity and evaluation of the adequacy of the funding under the Program;
30 
and,
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i) Perform such other functions as may be deemed necessary for the success
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of the NSRS program.
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Sec. 15. Role of the DOH. - The DOH shall perform the following functions in
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the implementation of the NSRS program:
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a) In coordination with the CHED, SUCs, and PHEIs, determine the initial
4 
number and distribution of nurses needed for each municipality or province
5 
which determination shall be made every five (5) years from the effectivity
6 
of this Act;
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b) Ensure that all regions in the country have at least one level one (1) Level
8 
III DOH hospital to ensure the availability of a possible partner or base
9 
hospital of nursing schools;
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c) Ensure the integration of scholars into the public health service system and
11 
monitor their performance during the mandatory return service period;
12 
d) Assist the CHED in the conduct of the regular information dissemination on
13 
the NSRS Program and in the recruitment of scholar-applicants;
14 
e) Craft a career pathway for nurses who are beneficiaries of the NSRS
15 
program in the public health service system to incentivize scholar-nurses to
16 
continue serving therein;
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f) Coordinate with the LGUs for the mandatory integration of scholar-nurses
18 
into the public health services system; and,
19 
g) Recommend to the DBM the creation of plantilla positions for scholar-nurses
20 
with salary grades commensurate to their educational achievement, training
21 
and other qualifications.
22 
Sec. 16. Role of LGUs. - LGUs are mandated to support the integration of the
23 
scholar into the public health service system by performing the following functions:
24 
a) Create a mechanism or system to provide the necessary support including
25 
support to ensure their safety and protection, for the integration of nurses
26 
who will be assigned to the LGU;
27 
b) Coordinate with the DOH and the nurses to determine the specific health
28 
needs or requirements of the community and provide the necessary
29 
assistance, including involvement in the research component of the nursing
30 
service system;


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c) As far as practicable and subject to availability of funds, maintain a regular
2 
counterpart fund to be used for providing the balance of the scholarship
3 
budget for scholars enrolled in SUCs or PHEIs;
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d) Provide other forms of financial assistance, subject to availability of funds,
5 
to support the integration program of nurses in the LGUs;
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e) Recommend to the CHED any strategies to improve the implementation of
7 
the NSRS program;
8 
f) In Coordination with the CHED, SUC or PHEI concerned, conduct an
9 
information dissemination campaign on the NSRS program within the
10 
municipality or province with the objective of attracting qualified applicants
11 
to the said program;
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g) Execute and enforce laws, ordinances and regulations which may, directly
13 
or indirectly, have a positive impact on the NSRS program; and,
14 
h) Perform all other acts to assist the scholar to ensure that the scholar finishes
15 
the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program within the time frame provided
16 
by the nursing school or the CHED.
17 
Sec. 17. Funding. - The amount necessary to carry out the implementation of
18 
this act shall be charged against the current years appropriation of the participating
19 
SUC, DOH and CHED.
20 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of the
21 
nursing scholarship provided under this act shall be included in the scholarship
22 
program of SUCs and CHED in the annual General Appropriations Act.
23 
Sec. 18. Transitory Provisions. - Upon the effectivity of this Act, current scholars
24 
under the existing nursing scholarship programs of the DOH and CHED shall
25 
automatically be eligible to avail the benefits under this Act.
26 
Sec. 19. Joint Congressionai Oversight Committee on NSRS Program. - There
27 
is hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and
28 
evaluate the implementation of this Act.
29 
The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five (5) members each from
30 
the Senate and from the House of Representatives, and shall include the following:
31 
a) Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational
32 
Education;
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b) Chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education;
2 
c) Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography;
3 
d) Chairperson of the House Committee on Health; and,
4 
e) Three (3) members each to be chosen from the membership of the Senate
5 
Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education and the House
6 
Committee on Higher Technical and Vocational Education, and the House
7 
Committee on Higher and Technical Education by the Senate President the
8 
House Speaker respectively: Provided, That at least one (1) member from
9 
the respective nominees of the House of Representatives and the Senate
10 
shall be chosen from the minority party.
11 
Sec. 20. Determination of Number and Aiiocation of Schoiars to be Admitted.-
12 
Every five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH and CHED shall, upon
13 
assessing the shortage of health human resource workforce in the country against the
14 
ideal standards and the National Health Human Resource Masterplan created under
15 
Section 23 of Republic Act 11223 or the "Universal Health Care Act", and the upon
16 
consultation with participating SUCs and PHEIs, the DBM and the PRC, determine the
17 
number and geographical location of scholars to be admitted every school year
18 
allocating at least one (1) scholarship slot in municipalities without government
19 
nurses: Provided, That in determining the allocation quota of the scholars to be
20 
admitted to the Program, utmost priority is given to regions with low nurses-to-
21 
population ratios: Provided, further. That in order to ensure an adequate number of
22 
competent human resource for health for the entire country the DOH shall submit to
23 
Congress the National Health Human Resource Master Plan, and any updates thereto
24 
in accordance with the Universal Health Care Law.
25 
Sec. 21. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within one hundred and
26 
twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the CHED and the DOH shall, in a
27 
coordination with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges,
28 
Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations, League of Municipalities,
29 
Association of Municipal Health Officers, Non-Government Community-Based Health
30 
Programs, PRC, DBM, SUCs, PHEIs, associations of nursing schools and nursing
31 
students and other relevant stakeholders, formulate and issue the rules and
32 
regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act: Provided, That the absence
11


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of the implementing rules and regulations shall not affect the effectivity of this Act
2 
and the grant of benefits provided herein.
3 
Sec. 22. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
4 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
5 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
6 
Sec. 23. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees or issuances,
7 
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations
8 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
9 
modified, or amended accordingly.
10 
Sec. 24. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
11 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general
12 
circulation.
Approved,
12