EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2142
FILED
DATE
TIME
INDEX
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7305, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA 
CARTA OF PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines remains to be one of the most 
severely affected countries in the world, with daily recorded cases at their all-time high. 
The pandemic caused an unprecedented public health crisis that overwhelmed our 
already struggling healthcare system. It further revealed gaps in financing for healthcare 
and highlighted the shortage of healthcare workers who work tirelessly on the frontlines. 
They serve and save our people while risking their own lives and being grossly 
underpaid.
The Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (Republic Act No. 7305) was signed into 
law almost 30 years ago "to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of 
the health workers, their living and working conditions and terms of employment. Yet, 
in our battle against the pandemic, healthcare workers continue to cany the brunt of 
standing on the frontlines with meager compensation and delayed benefits. In late 2020, 
it was revealed that more than 16,000 healthcare workers were yet to receive their hazard 
pay under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. More than 15,000 have been infected with 
COVID-19, 82 of whom succumbed to the disease. According to the Department of 
Health, there is also an increase in the number of healthcare workers infected with 
COVID-19, as the country faces a new surge of infections. Many healthcare professionals 
and organizations are calling for assistance and intervention, as hospitals are already 
filled up and healthcare workers are overworked, with many of them needing to be 
isolated.
Integral to addressing the gaps and challenges in our healthcare system is providing 
the best working conditions for and protecting our health workers. Hence, this bill seeks 
to amend the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers and ensure that public health 
workers are appropriately compensated and provided with their well-deserved


incentives and benefits. Such measures are crucial in assisting and protecting our health 
workers, thereby strengthening the better delivery of quality healthcare services for all.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
fGILINAN
FRANCIS N.
Senate


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bm No. 2142
f^imm
5o E-FILED 
ui DATc:»PIil,2.!.'.;
\y>
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7305, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA 
CARTA OF PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as
2 
follows:
3 
SECTION 9. Discrimination Prohibited. - A public health worker shall not be
4 
discriminated against with regard to SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND
5 
gender IDENTITY, civil status, AGE, DISABILITY, [creed;] religious or
6 
political beliefs AND AFFILIATIONS, [and ethnic groupings] OR
7 
ETHNICITY in the exercise of his/her profession.
8 
SEC. 2. Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows:
9 
SECTION 18. Night Shift Differential. - a) Every public health worker shall be
10 
paid a night shift differential of [ten] TWENTY percent [(10%-)] (20%) of
11 
his/her regular wage for each hour of work performed during the night shifts
12 
customarily adopted by hospitals.
13 
b) Every health worker required to work on the period covered after his/her
14 
regular schedule shall be entitled to his/her regular wage plus the regular
15 
overtime rate and an additional amount of [ten] TWENTY percent [(10%)]
16 
(20%) of such overtime rate for each hour of work performed between [ten
17 
(40)] SIX (6) o'clock in the evening to six (6) o'clock in the morning.
18 
Sec. 3. Section 21 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows:
19 
SECTION 21. Hazard Allowance. - [Public health workers in hospitals;
20 
sanitaria, rural-health units, main health contcro/-hcalth infirmaries, barangay
21 
health station3,-clinico and- other health related establishments-


1 
difficult aroao> otrifo tom or embattled aroaoy diotroooGd or-ioolatod stations/
2 
prioono camps,-cental-hospitals, radiation exposed clinicoy laboratonoo -or
3 
disoaoo infootod oroao or in areas declared under state- of -calamity—or
4 
emergency -for-tho duration thereof which expose them-to groat danger;
5 
contagion, radiation, volcanic activity/eruption, occupational risl<s or porils-to
6 
life ao determined by the Secretary of Health or the Hoad-of the-urut with-the
7 
approval of the Secretary of-Health, shall bo compensated hazard allowances
8 
equivalent to at least-twenty fivo pcrcont (25%) of the monthly basic oalary of
9 
health workers receiving-salary grade 19 and below, and five-percent (5%)-fer
10 
hoalth-workors-with oalaiy grade 20 and above?] BY NATURE OF THEIR
11 
WORK, WHICH SUBJECT THEM TO HEALTH HAZARDS AND
12 
OCCUPATIONAL RISKS, ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS,
13 
REGARDLESS OF THE DEGREE OF THEIR EXPOSURE TO SUCH
14 
HAZARDS AND RISKS, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY
15 
HAZARD ALLOWANCE OF TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00)
16 
WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO AN INCREASE TO THIS AMOUNT AS MAY
17 
BE DETERMINED IN THE FUTURE BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH.
18 
Sec. 4. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows:
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
SECTION 22. Subsistence Allowance. - [Public health workers who-are 
required to render service within the premises-of hospitals; sarutana, health
infirmarics>-main-health contoro, rural health-umts-and barangay health
stations, or clinics, and other health related establishments in order to make 
their oorvices available at any and all times, shall be-entitied to full subsistence
allowance of three-(3) meals-which may-bo computed in accordance with
prevailing circumstanceo ao dotorminod by the Secretary of Health—m
consultation with the Management Health Workers' Consultative Councils, as
established under Section 33-of this Act: Provided, That representation-and
travel-allowance shall-be given to rural health physicians as-enjoyed-by
municipal agriculturists, municipal planning and-dovelopment officors-and 
budget officers:] ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE ENTITLED 
TO FULL SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE EQUIVALENT TO THREE 
HUNDRED PESOS (P300.00) PER DAY FOR RENDERING ACTUAL 
SERVICES WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO AN INCREASE TO THIS 
AMOUNT AS MAY BE DETERMINED IN THE FUTURE BY THE 
SECRETARY OF HEALTH.
36 
Sec. 5. Section 24 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows:
SECTION 24. Laundry Allowance. - All public health workers who are 
required to wear uniforms regularly shall be entitled to laundry allowance 
equivalent to [One hundred twenty five pesos (P125.00)] FIVE HUNDRED 
PESOS (P500.00) per month: Provided, That this rate shall be reviewed 
periodically and increased accordingly by the Secretary of Health in 
consultation with the appropriate government agencies concerned taking into 
account existing laws and prevailing practices.


Sec. 6. Section 35 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows:
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
15
16
SECTION 35. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health after 
consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government as well as 
professional and health workers' organizations or unions, shall formulate and 
prepare the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of 
this ActH, WHICH [Rules and rcgulations-isoucd pursuant to this Section] 
shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in a newspaper of general 
circulation.
9 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared
10 
imconstitutional and invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof
11 
which shall remain in full force and effect.
12 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, administrative orders, and
13 
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
14 
accordingly.
Sec. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,