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House Bill No. $312

Introduced by REP. CAMILLE A. VILLAR

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF NURSES, ASSIGNING AT LEAST ONE
REGISTERED NURSE FOR EVERY BARANGAY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As a backgrounder, the Philippine economy experienced a surge in growth in
2001 due to the increased demand for Filipino professionals abroad, foremost of
which is the demand for registered nurses. This demand for Filipino nurses abroad
indeed helped to fuel the Philippine economy with the remittances to the country sent
by the Filipino nurses abroad. However, the foreign demand for Filipino nurses has
waned through the years, thus leaving many of our nurses unemployed and/or
underemployed here in the Philippines. As of January 2014, the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) estimated that there are at least 300,000 unemployed
nurses in the country’ and this figure is believed to have increased 5 years hence.

The unemployment and/or underemployment of our nurses here or their non-
deployment for abroad should not be considered a problem, but must be viewed as
an opportunity. The vast resources of competent Filipino nurses actually presents a
welcome opportunity for our government to 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.

In this connection, the attached bill proposes that the government mobilize
and utilize these unemployed or underemployed nurses by dispatching at least one
registered nurse to every barangay in the Philippines. This will not only address the
problem of the unemployment and underemployment of our professional nurses, but
will be considered a leap in improving the health service delivery in the country.

" Herrera, E. In need of nurses and nurses in need. The Manila Times. 24 January 2014.


The duties of each dispatched nurse include educating their respective
barangays on the importance of health, hygiene, sanitation, and wellness. Their goal
is not only to address the immediate medical needs of the community, but also,
through education, to prevent illnesses and ailments. As Benjamin Franklin once
‘said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

In view of the foregoing, | recommend the immediate passage of this bill.

Curt Mlios
CAMILLE A. VILLAR

Representative
Lone District, Las Pifias City


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3312

Introduced by REP. CAMILLE A. VILLAR

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF NURSES, ASSIGNING AT LEAST ONE
REGISTERED NURSE FOR EVERY 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 “A Nurse in Every
Barangay Act of 2019”.

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 Barangay. — There is
hereby established a Program for the Employment of Nurses in every barangay, for
the purpose of improving the delivery of public health care services, and to provide
relevant and timely education on wellness, hygiene, sanitation and other health
safety measures to the poorest communities in rural areas as well as underprivileged
communities in the urban areas, while providing gainful employment to registered
nurses and utilizing their professional competencies.

Sec. 4. Role of Local Government Units. - Each local government unit is
mandated to employ one (1) registered nurse in every barangay within their
jurisdiction.


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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 their
capability 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
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
2002, or Republic Act No. 9173.

Sec. 8. Certification. — 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.

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
in the General Appropriation Act.

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 Clause. - 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.


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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,