Republic of the Philippines 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
     Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
          House Bill No.___________ 
 INTRODUCED BY REP.JUMEL ANTHONY I. ESPINO 
 AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF NURSES, ASSIGNING AT 
LEAST ONE REGISTERED NURSE FOR EVERY UNSERVED OR 
UNDERSERVED BARANGAY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The case for investing in healthcare, especially in the local level, has never 
been clearer in this time of a pandemic. The nursing profession in the Philippines 
has become the frontliner in the fight against the Covid-19 virus.  
Although the Philippines has been a large-scale producer of nurses for 
domestic and international deployment, Filipino nursing graduates have been 
finding difficulties in finding local and overseas employment. What is ironic 
however is that, despite the availability of nursing manpower, many rural and 
peri-urban areas in the country remain unserved or underserved with the absence 
of health workers, resulting in weak health system.  
With the country already having a surplus of trained nurses and limited 
employment opportunities locally and a competitive job market abroad, the 
number of unemployed nurses has been increasing over the years.  
However, rather than treating thee vast resources of trained Filipino nurses 
as challenging, our government should utilize these human resources to address 
May 4, 2021
11:18 am
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and improve the delivery of health services in the country, particularly in far-
flung barangays normally not catered by the conventional government health 
centers. The government may engage the services of the nurses to be at the 
forefront of the government health care programs. 
This bill proposes that the government employ these unemployed or 
underemployed nurses and deploy them to every barangay in the Philippines that 
is unserved or underserved by health services.  
Each deployed nurse shall render information dissemination on disease 
prevention, basic maternal and obstetric care, pre-natal and post-natal care, teen-
age pregnancy counselling, family planning and reproductive health education, 
nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention, registration of live births and educate barangay 
residents on all other important information on health, hygiene, sanitation, and 
wellness. Their goal is to address the basic medical and health needs of the 
community. 
In view of the foregoing, I recommend the immediate passage of this bill. 
HON. JUMEL ANTHONY I. ESPINO 
  2nd District, Pangasinan 
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   Republic of the Philippines 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 Quezon City 
       EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
 Second Regular Session 
          House Bill No.___________ 
 INTRODUCED BY REP.JUMEL ANTHONY I. ESPINO 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF NURSES,  
 ASSIGNING AT LEAST ONE REGISTERED NURSE FOR  
 EVERY UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED BARANGAY IN 
 THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 "Nurses to the Barangay Act of 2021". 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. - The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It 
shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare. Towards this end, it is further 
declared the policy of the State to promote a sustained and cultivated reservoir of national talents, 
preserving the skills and aptitude of our trained professionals, particularly our nurses, through the 
utilization and maximization of their medical knowledge that will likewise help promote the right 
of the people to health, thereby achieving the realization of a healthy and productive citizenry. 
Sec. 3. Program of the Employment of Nurses in Every Unserved or Underserved Barangay. - 
There is hereby established a Program for the Employment of Nurses in every unserved or 
underserved barangay, for the purpose of improving the delivery of public health care services, to 
the unserved or underserved barangays in rural areas as well as underprivileged communities in the 
urban areas, while providing gainful employment to registered nurses and utilizing their 
professional competencies. 
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Sec. 4. Role of Local Government Units. - Each local government unit is mandated to identify 
barangays that are unserved or underserved by health care service and employ one (1) registered 
nurse for these barangays within their jurisdiction. 
Sec. 5. Recruitment, Selection, and Training. - The local government units shall secure the 
assistance of the Department of Health in recruiting, selecting, and in training the registered nurses 
employed by Local government Units to ensure theicapability in addressing public health and 
wellness concerns of the barangays. 
For this purpose, the Department of Health is hereby mandated to issue guidelines setting the 
qualifications of nurses to be deployed to the barangays as well as come up with a module for the 
relevant training of these nurses. The guidelines to be set shall in no case discriminate against the 
hiring of fresh 16 graduates or newly passed registered nurses. 
Sec. 6. Minimum Qualification of Nurses. - Nurses engaged under the program shall have the 
following minimum qualifications: must have a valid RN license issued by the Professional 
Regulatory Commission; must be willing to relocate to its assigned area, even temporarily; and 
must have passion for public health concerns. 
Sec. 7. Stipend. - Nurses employed under the program shall be entitled to a monthly stipend 
preferably equal to salary grade 15, consistent with the mandatory minimum entry-level pay for 
government nurses under the Philippine Nursing Act of 24 2002, or Republic Act No. 9173. 
Sec. 8. Duties. - Nurses under this program are required to provide an annual health status report 
regarding the average health and wellness of the barangay and must provide suggestions to the local 
government units to improve the health and wellness of all citizens of the barangay. Each deployed 
nurse shall render information dissemination on disease prevention, basic maternal and obstetric 
care, pre-natal and post-natal care, teen-age pregnancy counselling, family planning and 
reproductive health education, nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention, registration of live births and 
educate barangay residents on all other important information on health, hygiene, sanitation, and 
wellness. 
Sec. 9. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to implement the program under this Act shall 
be initially appropriated out of the funds of the respective local government units. Thereafter, the 
amount necessary for the full implementation of this program shall be included in the respective 
budget of the local government units. 


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Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty days (60) from the effectivity of 
this Act, the DILG and DOH shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations, as may be 
necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
Sec. 11. Separability Cause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional 
or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to 
be in force and effect. 
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of 
instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provisions of this Act is hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,