HOUSE F REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SO JUN 2016
= DATE
Quezon City

TTive: ae
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BY: Le,
First Regular Session

REGISTRATION i:
BILLS AND INDEX S$2RVICE

House Bill No. 625

Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES S. LANETE, M.D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE .

Article 2, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution declares, “The State shall proiect and promote
the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

On the other hand, Article 2, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution declares, "The State affirms
labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their
welfare,

However, the State is unable to provide adequate health services if government nurses,
pharmacists, specch therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, medical technicians and
radiology technicians, considered as the backbone of every hospital, are suffering from
disillusionment and low morale brought about by insufficient salaries and lack of financial benefits
Thus, the country continues to be saddled with a poor healthcare sector caused primarily by the low
ratio of nurses and health care personnel-to-patient as duly licensed nurses and other medical
personnel opt to bring their services either (0 greener pastures abroad or to other relatively lucrative
sectors which do not involve the practice of their profession.

With the passing of Republic Act No. 9173 otherwise known as the Nursing Act of 2002, it
‘was envisioned that the above-mentioned problem would be solved as the salary grade of government
nurses was upgraded from SG 11 to 15. It was also hoped for that a law providing for the same
benefits would be passed in favor of health care personnel,

However, according to Nurses for Change Movement, the basic monthly salary of a nurse is

still around SG 11 or equivalent to PhP15,649.00 or less compared to their supposed carning of
around PhP22,688,00, This is due to the Executive Branch’s reluctance in enforcing the salary grade
increase as it will allegedly strain the country’s coffers. Sadly, R.A. No, 9173 was lefi like a toothless

tiger as it lacked sufficient mechanisms in order to implement said salary grade increase. In addition,

the much anticipated law governing benefits for health care personnel has yet to reach the surface of >
reality

Hence, this Bill seeks to add tooth to R.A. 9173 by appropriating funds for the increase in
salary grade of government nurses, pharmacists, specch therapists, occupational therapists, physical
therapists, medical technicians and radiology technicians. By doing so, a salary increase for nurses,
pharmacists and other health care personnel shall be mandated and there can no longer be any excuse
for the Executive Branch in resisting such. Through this Bill, more will be encouraged to wop
government hospitals which will necessarily lead to an improved ratio of medical personnel
and better healthcare services. Therefore, the immediate passage of this Bil¥js sought (or

SCOTT DAVIESS. LANETE, M.D.
resentative
‘Third District, Province of Masbate


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

629

House Bill No.

Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES S. LANE

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,
GRANT OF ALLOWANCE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. 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 conditions to help ensure. promote and maintain
the delivery of basic health services

SECTION 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” refers 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 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 centers, rural health units,
barangay health stations, clinics and other health-related establishments owned and operated
by the Government or its political subdivisions with original charters and shall include
medical, allied health professional, administrative and support personne! employed regardless
of their employment status.

SECTION 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,
medical technicians, radiology technicians and other health care personnel shall not be lower
than Salary Grade 13 prescribed under the Compensation and Classification Act of 1989.



SECTION 4. Allowances. In addition to the base pay, nurses and pharmacists working in
government shall receive at least One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php!.500.00) every
month as allowance while speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists,
medical technicians, radiology technicians and other health care personnel shall be entitled to
a monthly allowance of One Thousand Pesos (PhP 1,000.00).

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars, and
memoranda inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid or
unconstitutional, no other provisions hereof shall be thereby affected.

SECTION 7. Appropriation. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act for
the first five (5) years shall be sourced out from the gross annual revenues of the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and thereafter in a special fund to be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Budget and
Management (DBM), shall, within sixty (60) days after its approval prepare and issue the
necessary guidelines to implement the same.

SECTION 9. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,