Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

RECEIVED ”

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TE paTe _3 0 JUN 2025

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 144

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The nursing profession has always been vital to a country’s
healthcare system. Nurses have always been at the forefront of
change especially when it comes to public health and are known
to always advocate for the patients. Nurses provide a wide range
of care for an every growing and constantly changing society.
This said, it is only proper to give our nurses every opportunity to
develop and deepen their knowledge and skills.

The Philippines is well known for the quality of nurses that it
produces. Aside from the natural tendency of Filipinos to be
compassionate, caring, and attentive, it cannot be denied that
Filipino nurses are generally skilled and competent, so much so
that other countries hire Filipino nurses to reinforce their
healthcare workforce.

In fact, Filipino nurses employed in different hospitals by other
countries such as the United States of America, United Kingdom
and other European countries were given recognition not only in
their competence but their extraordinary valor in responding to
the COVID-19 pandemic. While others refuse to thread on
dangerous situation brought by COVID-19, Filipino nurses are
ready, able and willing to confront whatever challenges facing
them even at the risk of their own personal safety.



In this regard and to enable them remain competitive amidst the
growing supply of nurses worldwide and retain our stellar global
reputation in the said industry, this bill seeks to propose the
institution of an Advanced Nursing Education Program consisting
of a Master’s Degree and a Post-Doctoral Degree for Filipino
nurses.

While we acknowledge the reality that many Filipino nurses seek
employment abroad because they see such as a greener pasture,
it is the vision of this bill to bring back our nurses in the
Philippines by presenting them a wider range of decent career
opportunities locally after obtaining their master’s and post-
doctoral degrees. The advanced education program will be
designed to prepare our nurses for careers in science and
research, in the academe or in essential and relevant positions in
the government with the ultimate aim of using and utilizing their
acquired knowledge and experience for the benefit of the Filipino
people especially those who belong to the marginalized sectors
such as women, children, persons with disabilities, indigenous
people, and the urban and rural poor, among others.

The adoption, therefore, of this congressional measure is hereby
earnestly sought.

eu 7,

ERIC L. OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 144

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT (RA) NO. 9173, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002,
PROVIDING FOR AN ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION
PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Advanced
Nursing Education Act of 2020”.

Sec. 2 Statement of Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to
uphold, maintain, and further hone the integrity and excellence
of the nursing profession by instituting an Advanced Nursing
Education Program and other related measures that will result in
better career opportunities, humane working conditions, and a
more dignified practice of profession for our nurses, with the
ultimate objective of ensuring that such development redounds to
the benefit of the Filipino people.

Sec. 3. Section 25 of RA 9173, also known as the Philippine
Nursing Act of 2002 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 25. Nursing Education Program -The nursing
education refers to the formal learning and training
in the science of nursing provided by colleges,
universities, and other higher educational


institutions duly recognized and accredited by the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The
science of nursing includes the functions and
duties in the physical care of patients, and a
combination of different disciplines that both
accelerate the patient's return to health and
wellness, and normalcy of life, and help maintain
it.

The Nursing Education in the Philippines shall
consist of basic and advanced programs whereby
the former is completed through a four-year
undergraduate degree and the latter, through a
master’s degree and a post-doctoral degree. The
aforementioned levels of education in Nursing shall
be instituted, managed, and/or implemented
pursuant to republic Act No. 7722, otherwise
known as the CHED Law.”

Sec. 4. A new Section 26 shall be inserted after the amended
Section 25 of RA 9173, to read thus:

“Sec. 26. Basic Nursing Education - The Basic
Nursing Education Program shall consist of no less
than four years of undergraduate studies that will
equip students with the necessary knowledge,
skills, and overall competency for entry-level
nursing practice of reputable quality.

Admission to the basic program for Nursing shall
require a passing score in a National Nursing
Admission Test, as set by the Commission on
Higher Education.

The curriculum for basic nursing education should
include community integration and immersion
focusing on the marginalized sectors such as
women, children, the elderly, persons with
disabilities, the urban and rural poor, indigenous
people, among other vulnerable groups of persons.”


Sec. 5. A new Section 27 shall be inserted after the new Section
26, to read as:

“Sec. 27. Advanced Nursing Education - There shall
be an Advance Nursing Education Program in the
form of a Master’s as well as of a Post-Doctoral
Degree in Nursing.

The Advanced Nursing education program shall
provide advanced theoretical knowledge, assessment
skills, role and leadership development, advanced
clinical practice in a selected specialization, and the
opportunity to critique and apply nursing theory
and research as a scientific base for nursing
practice. The advanced nursing education curricula
shall include core courses such as_ health
assessment, health promotion, community/public
health, health economics and policy, theory and
ethics, as well as research. Specialty, leadership, and
elective courses shall also be integrated gradually in
their curriculum.

The PhD program shall prepare the post-graduate
student to develop and conduct scientific research
that advances the theoretical foundation of nursing
practice and healthcare delivery, with particular
focus on public or community health. The program
shall be designed to prepare nurses for careers in
science and research, in the academe or in essential
and relevant roles in government with the ultimate
aim of using and utilizing such knowledge for the
benefit of the Filipino people especially those who
belong to the marginalized sectors such as women,
children, the elderly, persons with disabilities,
indigenous people, and the urban and rural poor,
among others.

Sec. 6. Section 26 of RA 9173 shall be renumbered as Section
28.


Sec. 7. Section 27 shall be renumbered as Section 28, and shall
be amended as follows:

SEC. 27 28. Qualifications of the Faculty.

(1) In the Basic/Undergraduate Education Program
for Nursing, the faculty member must:

(a) Be a registered nurse in the Philippines;

(b) Have at least one (1) year of clinical practice in
a field of specialization;

(c) Be a member of good standing in the accredited
professional organization of nurses; and

(d) Be a holder of a master’s degree in nursing,
education, or other allied medical and health
sciences conferred by a college or university duly
recognized by the Government of the Republic of
the Philippines.

In addition to the aforementioned qualifications,
the dean of a college must have a master’s degree
in nursing. He/she must have at least five (5) years
of experience in nursing.

(2) In the Advanced/Graduate Education Program
for Nursing, the faculty member must:

{a) possess all the qualifications mentioned in
paragraph (1) of this Section.

(b) be a holder of a doctoral degree in nursing
conferred by a college, university, or higher
educational institution duly recognized by the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

Sec. 8. Section 28 of RA 9173 is hereby renumbered as Section
30, and all succeeding Sections of this Act shall be renumbered
accordingly.


Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The
Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) in coordination with
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall promulgate
and approve the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the
provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity.
The IRR shall be published in the Official Gazette or in any
newspaper of general circulation.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. In the event that any provision of
this Act shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional, other
provisions unaffected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or
parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a
newspaper of general circulation.

APPROVED.