■"','1.1- oi I:-
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL 15 P2:12
S. No.
SENATE
647
Hr.CElLi :.i o’.
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
GRANTING INCENTIVES AND OTHER BENEFITS TO RURAL HEALTH UNIT
WORKERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Rural health unit workers play an indispensable role in preserving and 
enhancing the health of rural inhabitants. These workers offer their service to far- 
flung areas, which, like any other areas, are deeply in need of essential health services.
Geographically speaking, the distribution of healthcare professionals including 
nurses, doctors, and midwives in the country is grossly disproportionate. There 
appears to be a concentration on few rural health unit workers since most of them are 
more likely to work in cities and municipalities that have greater access to amenities 
like hospitals and clinics.
Rural health workers' contribution was particularly highlighted during the 
COVID-19 pandemic when the country's health system was overwhelmed. Residents 
living in the rural areas struggled in accessing proper health care but the rural health 
workers played an integral role in ensuring that proper health supervision will be 
extended in those areas. Given the dedication of the rural health unit workers, it is 
imperative that proper incentives and benefits should be granted to them.
Thus, this bill seeks to provide incentives to rural health unit workers such as 
hazard allowance, subsistence allowance, and scholarships in the form of tuition fees 
and stipends. These assistance will serve as a recognition for their efforts and hard 
work in delivering sen/ices to remote areas.
Therefore, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL15 P2 -12
SENATE
S. No. 647
RLCliV
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
GRANTING INCENTIVES AND OTHER BENEFITS TO RURAL HEALTH UNIT
WORKERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Rural Health Unit
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Workers Incentives and other Benefits Act"
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -The State shall protect and promote the right to
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health of people and instill health consciousness among them by giving each individual
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unimpaired access to health and information services. Towards this end, this Act shall
6 
provide incentives and benefits to rural health unit doctors, the front-liners in the
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promotion, protection and maintenance of health in the rural areas.
8 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. -The term "rural health workers" shall refer to all
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persons who are engaged in health and health-related work, and all persons employed
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in rural health units operated by Government or its political subdivisions with original
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charters and shall include medical, allied health professional, administrative and
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support personnel employed regardless of their employment status.
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Sec. 4. Incentives and Benefits. - In recognition of their services, rural unit health
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workers shall, in addition to their incentives and benefits granted under existing laws,
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be entitled to the following;
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a.) hazard allowance in an amount to be determined by the local health board
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of the local government unit concerned;


1 
b.) subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals they take in the course of
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their duty which shall be computed in accordance with prevailing
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circumstances as determined by the local government unit concerned; and
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c.) scholarships in the form of tuition fees and stipends.
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Sec. 5. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act shall be
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declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or the provisions not affected
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thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 6. Repeating Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
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amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 7. Effectivity. —This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,