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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
{i)jlnr (,f if:,' -f1'n'ti!lrU 
Second Regular Session 
'jS 
11AR 11 
SENATE 
S, B, 
2689 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
UPGRADING THE MINIMUM SALARY GRADE OF GOVERNMENT DOCTORS 
FROM SALARY GRADE 16 TO 24 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
111is bill aims to upgrade the minimum salary grade level of public doctors to encourage 
more medical professionals to work in government hospitals instead of going abroad, 
According to the International Labor Organization, health professionals leave the 
country because of "colonial mentality, economic needs, career development and better 
standard of living abroad," The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said that the most common 
reasons for doctor migration are low salaries and inhumane working conditions, 
The Philippines and India are two of the larger providers of foreign health workers for 
the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, including 
European nations,' 
The Philippines is said to be the number one exporter of nurses and the number two 
exporter of doctors in the world, Yet, seven out of 10 Filipinos die without seeing a health 
professional. 
Data from research group !BON Foundation showed that in 2007, there were only seven 
government doctors for every 200,000 Filipinos, way below the World Health Organization 
standard ratio of one doctor to 5,000 patients, 
According to AHW, resident doctors in the government receive P26, 259/month, while 
doctors in the private sector get P20, 135/month, The group says resident doctors work at an 
average of 110 hours a week, more than the mandated hours of work per week under the Labor 
Code while Municipal Health Officers are on-call 24 hours. They are not given overtime pay 
and on-call pay, This does not even take into account the situation of contractual resident 
doctors in government hospitals. 
The poor situation of doctors in the country does not only push doctors to leave for 
abroad (with some even studying nursing), it also discourages students from pursuing a career 
in medicine. 
1 Wickramasekara, Piyasirl. Assessment of the impact of migration of health professionals on the labour market and health 
sector performance in destination countries. July 2014. ILO Asia pacific Working paper Series. p. 3, 
http://wDrks.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=l 0 2 7 &co nte xt= p iva s i ri _ w ic kra mase ka ra 
Dr. '20 
, J ' 


Because of this, health groups suggest an increase in the pay of government doctors. 
According to them, a minimum of P50,OOO per month will be sufficient, though still far from the 
salaries abroad. 
The nearest approximation in the Salary Standardization Law 3 is Salary Grade 24 
equivalent to P49,750 per month. 
Increasing the salaries of doctors is one important step that may help mitigate the 
migration of doctors and ensure quality healthcare for our people. 
In this light, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. B. 
268~) 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
" 
'I~ 
It~r~11 P5:7.0 
UPGRADING THE MINIMUM SALARY GRADE OF GOVERNMENT DOCTORS 
FROM SALARY GRADE 16 TO 24 
Be it elUlcted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as "The Government Doctors' Salary 
2 
Upgrading Act of 2013." 
3 
4 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the Government's concern and responsibility to 
5 
provide adequate remuneration for public hospital doctors to attract and retain its rightful share 
6 
of talents with the end in view of fulfilling the state policy of providing essential health services 
7 
to all Filipinos. 
8 
9 
SECTION 3. Raising of the Minimum Salary Grade Level. The present minimum salary 
10 
grade of government doctors (Medical Officer I) shall be upgraded from Salary Grade 16 to Salary 
11 
Grade 24. Salary grade levels of those occupying higher positions shall be adjusted accordingly. 
12 
13 
SECTION 4. Coverage. This Act shall cover all resident doctors in public hospitals, 
14 
whether nationally or locally funded. 
15 
16 
SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations. The Department of Health and the Department of 
17 
Budget and Management shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations of the provisions 
18 
of this Act. 
19 
20 
SECTION 6. Appropriation. The Government shall appropriate such amount as may be 
21 
necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act. Initial funds required for the implementation of 
22 
this Act shall be sourced from the savings of the Executive Branch of the government and other 
23 
possible sources that may be determined by the Office of the President. The subsequent funds 
24 
needed shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the year following the 
25 
implementation of this Act. 
26 
27 
SECTION 7. Constitutionality. Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid or 
28 
unconstitutional, the validity or constitutionality of the other provisions shall not be affected 
29 
thereby. 
30 
31 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, letters of instructions, resolutions, 
32 
orders, ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are 
33 
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
34 
35 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
36 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 


1 
2 
Approved,