REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. eau

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO D. GONZALES, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 9173 or the Nursing Act of 2002 breathed life to the Constitution’s mandate
that “affirms labor as a primary social economic force,” and that “the State shall ee the rights of
workers and promote their welfare.”

Nurses, pharmacists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, medical
technicians and radiology technicians are considered as the backbone of healthcare delivery.
Everything they do affects the outcome of care patients receive, as well as the general impression a
hospital gives to the public. Republic Act No. 9173 was enacted for the recognition and improvement
of the nursing profession. But after 17 years, the mandated minimum base pay of nurses working in the
public health institutions has yet to see the light of the day

‘Thus to ensure that the law’s lofty objectives are attained, the present bill seeks to appropriate
funds for the increase in salary grade of government nurses, pharmacists, speech therapists,
occupational therapists, physical therapists, medical technicians and radiology technicians. This bill
also provides allowances in addition to the base pay of our health care personnel. By providing them
with an increased salary, we can boost morale, increase employee satisfaction, and encourage hardwork
among our health care personnel.

In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly sought

3" District, Pampanga


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2994

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO D. GONZALES, JR.

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE SALARY GRADE OF GOVERNMENT
NURSES, PHARMACISTS, SPEECH THERAPISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS,
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, RADIOLOGY TECHNICIANS AND
OTHER HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL, GRANTING OF ALLOWANCE AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled.

SECTION. 1. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
continuously promote and improve the social and economic well-being of government nurses and
health care personnel as well as their living and working condition to help ensure, promoted and
maintain the delivery of the basic health services.

SEC. 2. Coverage. ~ The provision of the Act shall apply to all nurses, pharmacists, speech
therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, medical technicians, radiology technicians and
other health care personnel employed in government hospitals. As used in this Act, “nurses” refer to
graduates of a degree in Nursing and duly certified by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC)
who are employed by the national government or a local government unit, as the case may be, either in
public health institutions or in any government agency or instrumentality. In addition, “health care
personnel” shall mean all persons who are engaged in health and health-related work, and all persons
employed in all hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health center, rural health units, barangay health
stations, clinics and other health related establishments owner and operated by the Government or its
political subdivision with original charters and shall include medical, allied health professional,
administration and support personnel employed regardless of their employment status.

SEC. 3. Salary Grade Adjustment. ~ The minimum base pay of nurses and pharmacists working
in government shall not be lower than salary grade 15 prescribed under Republic Act No. 6758,
otherwise known as the Compensation and Classification Act of 1989. While the minimum base pay of
speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and medical technician, radiology
technicians and other health care personnel shall not be lower than Salary Grade 13 prescribed under
the Compensation and Classification Act of 1989.

SEC. 4. Allowances. — In addition to the base pay, nurses and pharmacists working in
government shall receive at least One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php1,500.00) every month as
allowance while speech theranists. occunational theranists. physical theranists. medical technicians.


radiology technicians and other health care personnel shall be entitled to a monthly allowance of One
Thousand Pesos (Php1,000.00).

SEC. 5. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to implement the provision of this Act is
hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated; Provided,
‘That the corresponding amount needed to implement this Act in subsequent years shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act for the Department of Health.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. — If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this Code shall be
adjudged by any Court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair,
or invalidate the remainder of said Code, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence,
paragraph, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars, and memoranda
inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of
this Act, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), shall issue the necessary guidelines to
implement the same.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of national circulation.

Approved,