NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
(©fftcp o{ tl^e ^rtVfKnrp
‘22 JUL-7 P4 *05
SENATE
Senate Bill No. ^^2
RECEIVED BY: 4
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR "JV" G. EJERCTTO
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7305 OR THE 
MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article XIII, Section 3 thereof, states that:
"The State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, 
organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality 
of employment opportunities for all. xxx"
With the global havoc made by the COVID-19 virus, health systems around the 
world continue to be challenged. No country, even the most powerful and rich ones, 
was prepared for the impact of the virus. Clearly, the pandemic tested the structure 
and competence of the health care systems around the world. Global responses to the 
COVID-19 pandemic has denuded the fundamental frailty and vulnerability of every 
health care system.
In the Philippines, we saw the weak, struggling, understaffed, underfunded 
healthcare system, and the burned out, exhausted and underpaid health care 
workers. It has opened our eyes to the root cause of the problem - the insufficient 
support of our government to the health care system.


The pandemic also revealed the shortage of health care workers and 
professionals, most specially in government hospitals. This is one of the impacts of 
the continuing flight of Filipino health care workers, which greatly affects our country's 
COVID-19 response. Many of our health care workers have left their profession and 
Institution to seek greener opportunities abroad.
It is therefore the duty of this Congress to recognize the invaluable 
contributions of our public health care workers by compensating their hardwork, 
sacrifices and heroism. The proposed measure seeks to introduce several amendments 
to the 30-year old, Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, with the end view of 
promoting the rights of our health workers to better pay and benefits. In particular, 
this measure will Increase the entry level salary of Medical Officer, nurse, dentist, 
midwife, medical technologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, respiratory 
therapist, speech therapist, optometrist, pharmacist, and radiologic technologist. 
Furthermore, additional compensation and benefits will be given to all public health 
workers such as supplemental Special Risk Allowance (SRA), across the board hazard 
pay, rice subsidy allowance, increase in longevity pay, laundry and clothing allowance, 
and compensation for injuries.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
—■'
JOSEPH VICTOR "3V" G. EJERCITO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
fell Senate
of ti)P €:>rr-'pflnrp
*22 JUL-7 P4 *05
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 162
RECEIVED BY:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR "JV" G. EJERCTTO
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7305 OR THE 
MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Title. -This Act shall be known as the '"Health Workers Salary
2 
Upgrading Act of 2022".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -It is the declared policy of the State to guarantee
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the entry and retention of qualified and competent health workers in the public health
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care system by ensuring the commensurate remuneration for their work loads and the
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hazards of their respective professions. This policy is in furtherance of the
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Constitutional mandate to promote the most adequate health care for the people by
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addressing the need for essential health workers and professionals in all public health
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care facilities. This Act intends to improve the socio-economic conditions of public
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health workers and to bolster the public health sector in the government service.
11 
Sec. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
12 
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
13 
"Sec. 3. [Definition] COVERAGE. - [fer-purposes of this Act,
14 
"health workers" shall mean all persons who arc engaged in
15 
health and-hcalth-rclatcd work, -and all persons emptoyed in all
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hospitals, sanitaria, health-infirmaries, health centers, rural health
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Etnits-, baraB§ay health stations, clinics and- other health-related


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establishments-owned and operated by the Govornment-er its
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political subdivisions with original charters and shall inciude
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medical, allied health- professional, administrative and support
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personnel-employed regardloss-of their employment status.'T'
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THIS ACT SHALL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PUBLIC
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HEALTH WORKERS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT,
7 
"HEALTH WORKERS" REFER TO PERSONS WHO ARE
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ENGAGED IN HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED WORK IN A
9 
HEALTH FACILITY OR OTHER RELATED ESTABLISHMENT,
10 
OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR ITS
11 
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. IT SHALL INCLUDE
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MEDICAL, 
ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL,
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ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL
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INCLUDING MAINTENANCE, JANITORIAL AND SECURITY
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PERSONNEL OF SUCH HEALTH FACILITY OR RELATED
16 
ESTABLISHMENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT
17 
STATUS."
18 
Sec. 4. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
19 
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
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"Sec. 19. Salaries. - [In the determination of the salary scale of
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public health workers, the provisions of -Republic Act No. 6758
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shall..govern, except that the benchmark for Rural Health
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t^^ysieians shall be upgraded to Grade 21.] THE DEPARTMENT
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OF HEALTH, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT
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OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT, IS HEREBY MANDATED
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TO ESTABLISH A NEW SALARY SCALE FOR PUBLIC
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HEALTH WORKERS: PROVIDED, THAT THE BENCHMARK
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FOR MEDICAL OFFICER 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 17,
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NURSE 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 16, MIDWIFE 1 SHALL
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BE SAURY GRADE 10, DENTIST 1 SHALL BE SAURY
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GRADE 15, MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST 1 SHALL BE SAURY
32 
GRADE 12, PHARMACIST 1 SHALL BE SAURY GRADE 12,


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PHYSICAL THERAPIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 12, 
RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY 
GRADE 12, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST 1 SHALL BE 
SALARY GRADE 12, RESPIRATORY THERAPIST 1 SHALL 
BE SALARY GRADE 11, SPEECH THERAPIST 1 SHALL BE 
SALARY GRADE 11 AND OPTOMETRIST 1 SHALL BE 
SALARY GRADE 13.
XXX."
Sec. 5. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna 
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
"Sec. 20. Additional Compensation. - Notwithstanding Section 12 
of Republic Act No. 6758 AND THE PROVISIONS OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11466, public HEALTH workers shall 
receive the following ADDITIONAL allowances: hazard 
allowance, SPECIAL RISK ALLOWANCE, subsistence 
allowance, RICE SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE, longevity pay, 
laundry AND CLOTHING allowance, and remote assignment 
allowance"
Sec. 6. Section 21 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna 
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
"Sec. 21. Hazard Allowance. - [Public health workers in hospitals, 
sanitaria, rural health units,-.main health centers, health
ififmeriesv-barangay hcalth-stationsT-etinics and-other hcaith-
related establishments located In -difficult -areas, strife-tern or
embattled arcas> distressed or isolated stations, prison-camps,
mental hospitals/- radiation-exposed - clinics, laboratories or
disease infested areas or in areas declared under state of calamity
er emergency for the duration thereof which expose them to
great danger, contagion, radiation, volcanic aetivity/oruption,
occupational risk or- perils to life as determined by the Secretary
ef-Health, shall de-eempensated hazard allowances equivalent to
at least twenty five percent (25%) of the monthly basic salary of


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health workers receiving salary grade 10 and below,-and five
2 
percent (5%) for health workers with salary grade 20 and above.]
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ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS PERFORMING HEALTH
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AND HEALTH-RELATED WORK REGARDLESS OF WORK
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LOCATION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HAZARD ALLOWANCE
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AMOUNTING TO FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000.00)
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PER MONTH: PROVIDED, THAT THIS RATE SHALL BE
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REVIEWED PERIODICALLY AND INCREASED
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ACCORDINGLY BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH IN
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CONSULTATION WITH THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT
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AGENCIES."
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Sec. 7. A new Section 21-A shall be inserted after Section 21 of Republic Act
13 
No. 7305 which shail read as foiiows:
14 
"SEC. 21-A. SPECIAL RISK ALLOWANCE. - PUBLIC
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HEALTH WORKERS, WHERE THE PERFORMANCE OF
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THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND LOCATION
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OF WORK EXPOSE THEM TO GREAT DANGER,
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OCCUPATIONAL RISKS, PERIL TO LIFE, AND PHYSICAL
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HARDSHIPS, IN AREAS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AS
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DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, SHALL BE
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ENTITLED TO SPECIAL RISK ALLOWANCE OF AT LEAST
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FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) OF THE MONTHLY BASIC
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SALARY."
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Sec. 8. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
25 
Carta for Pubiic Health Workers" is hereby amended as foiiows:
26 
"Sec. 22. Subsistence Allowance. - Pubiic heaith workers who are
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required to render service within OR NEAR the premises of
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[hospitals, sanitaria, heaith infirmaries, main health conters, rural
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health units and barongay health stations, or clinics, -and-othcr
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hoalth-rclatcd establishments] HEALTH FACILITIES AND
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OTHER RELATED ESTABLISHMENTS in order to make their
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services available at any and all times, shall be entitled to full


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subsistence allowance of three (3) meals which may be computed
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In accordance with prevailing circumstances as determined by the
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Secretary of Health in consultation with the Management-Health
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Worker's Consultative Councils, as established under Section 33
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Of this Act: PROVIDED, THAT SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE
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SHALL BE COMPUTED NOT LOWER THAN SEVENTY FIVE
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PESOS (Php75.00) PER MEAL; Provided, FURTHER, That
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representation and travel allowance shall be given to rural health
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physicians as enjoyed by municipal agriculturists, municipal
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planning and development officers and budget officers.//
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Sec. 9. A new Section 22-A shall be inserted after Section 22 of Republic Act
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No. 7305 which shall read as follows:
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"SEC. 22-A. RICE SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE, - ALL PUBLIC
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HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RICE
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SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE IN THE FORM OF CASH
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AMOUNTING TO ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY
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PESOS (Pl/250.00).
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Sec. 10. Section 23 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
19 
Carta for Public Health Workers" Is hereby amended as follows:
20 
"Section 23. Longevity Pay. - A monthly longevity pay equivalent
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to five percent (5%) of the monthly basic pay shall be paid to a
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health worker for every five (5) years of continuous, efficient and
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meritorious services rendered as certified by the chief of office
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concerned, commencing with the service after the approval of
25 
this Act.: PROVIDED, THAT FOR EVERY TEN (10) YEARS OF
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SERVICE, THEY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SPECIAL
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LONGEVITY PAY AMOUNTING TO ONE (1) MONTH OF
28 
BASIC SALARY."
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Sec. 11. Section 24 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
30 
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
31 
"Section 24. Laundry AND CLOTHING Aiiowance. - All public
32 
health workers who are required to wear uniforms regularly shall


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be entitled to laundry AND CLOTHING allowance equivalent to
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[One hundred-twenty-fivc pesos (P125.00)] FIVE HUNDRED
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PESOS (P500.00) per month: provided, that this rate shall be
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reviewed periodically and increased accordingly by the Secretary
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of Health in consultation with the appropriate government
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agencies concerned taking into account existing laws and
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prevailing practices."
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Sec. 12. Section 28 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
9 
Carta for Public Health Workers" Is hereby amended as follows:
10 
"Section 28. Compensation for Injuries. - Public health workers
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shall be protected against the consequences of employment
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injuries In accordance with existing law. Injuries incurred while
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doing overtime work shall be presumed work-connected.
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NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY,
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PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS WHO MAY BE INJURED OR
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CONTRACT ANY DISEASE WHILE IN THE PERFORMANCE
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OF THEIR DUTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AN AMOUNT
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OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00):
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PROVIDED^ THAT THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION PESOS
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(P1,000,000.00) SHALL BE GIVEN TO PUBLIC HEALTH
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WORKERS WHO MAY DIE WHILE IN THE PERFORMANCE
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OF THEIR DUTY: PROVIDED^ FURTHER, THAT
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ENTITLEMENT TO COMPENSATION UNDER THIS
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SECTION SHALL NOT PRECLUDE PUBLIC HEALTH
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WORKERS TO CLAIM ANY OTHER BENEFITS FOR THE
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Same injury provided for by other laws."
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Sec. 13. Free Continuing Professionai Development. - The Department of
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Health shall provide free Continuing Professional Development training for public
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health worker professionals who are required to undertake such program as a
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requirement for the renewal of their professional identification cards under the


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regulation of Professional Regulatory Commission as mandated by Republic Act No. 
10912 or the "Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016".
Sec. 14. Implementing 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 revised 
Implementing rules and regulation of the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers in 
accordance with this Act.
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. -If any portion or provision of this Act Is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules 
and regulations contrary to or Inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 17. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after Its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,