EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1578
03:02 pm
Introduced by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7305 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA 
CARTA FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As of December 2019, only 14.28% of registered health professionals are 
employed or otherwise engaged to provide their services in public health facilities. 
Majority of our health professionals are overseas or in other cases, not practicing their 
profession due to lack of permanent positions in private and public sector.
The emigration of Filipino health professionals continues because of competitive 
job opportunities and higher compensation benefits offered by foreign employers. 
Unfortunately, those who choose to remain in the country have no alternative but to 
accept the low compensation, poor benefits, and difficult working conditions in the 
country.
The COVID-19 pandemic reveals our shortage of health workers willing and 
able to work in the public sector. Amidst our battle against the recent pandemic, the 
national government implemented a temporary ban on deployment of health workers 
abroad until the national emergency is lifted. The obvious reason for such policy was 
to ensure and sustain the supply of health workers while we grapple with the COVID19 
pandemic. The Philippine Medical Association supports the temporary ban to 
guarantee that there will be available doctors to take place those who fall sick.
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However, due to public outcry, some health workers who secured their employment 
contract prior to the public health emergency declaration were allowed to leave the 
country.
The deployment ban made us realize the obvious - health workers are essential 
to our health care system. However, given the current employment conditions they 
are enduring, we should reflect and ask, do we value our health workers enough? The 
enactment of Universal Health Care Act (Republic Act No. 11223) aims to ensure that 
all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care 
goods and services and protected against financial risk. Nonetheless, how can we 
guarantee quality health care if we lack essential health workers in our health facilities 
because of low compensation and minimal benefits?
The proposed legislation focuses on financial motivation strategies to address 
the inadequate supply of health workers in the country. To inspire our health 
professionals and as a sign of gratitude for their service to the public, the bill seeks to 
increase and add benefits under Republic Act No. 7305 otherwise known as the Magna 
Carta for Public Health Workers Act. The enactment of this measure will give the 
following additional compensation to public health workers as defined in the bill: 
across the board hazard pay, special risk allowance, rice subsidy allowance, increased 
subsistence allowance, special longevity pay, increased laundry clothing allowance and 
compensation for injuries.
Let us give importance to our public health workers. Let them feel that we value 
them before, during, and after any public health emergency. For these reasons, I 
earnestly seek the immediate passage of this bill.
RONALD ”B,
ELA ROSA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1578
FILED
Introduced by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7305 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA 
CARTA FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
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Congress assembled:
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Sec. 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
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Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
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"Sec. 3. [Definition] COVERAGE. - [For purposes of this Act,
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"health workers" shall mean all persons who are engaged in
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health and health-related work, and all persons-employed in all
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hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers, rural health
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units, barangay health stations, clinics-and other health-related
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establishments owned and operated by the Government or its
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political subdivisions with original charters and shall include
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medical, allied health professional, administrative-and support
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personnel employed regardless of their employment status."]"
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THIS ACT SHALL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HEALTH
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WORKERS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, "HEALTH
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WORKERS" REFER TO PERSONS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN
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HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED WORK IN A HEALTH


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FACILITY OR OTHER RELATED ESTABLISHMENT, OWNED 
AND OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR ITS POLITICAL 
SUBDIVISIONS. IT SHALL INCLUDE MEDICAL, ALLIED 
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND 
SUPPORT PERSONNEL INCLUDING MAINTENANCE,
JANITORIAL AND SECURITY PERSONNEL OF SUCH 
HEALTH FACILITY OR RELATED ESTABLISHMENT,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT STATUS."
Sec. 2. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for 
Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
"Sec. 19. Salaries. - [In the-detormination of tho salary scale of 
public health workers, the provisions of Republic Act No. 6758
shall govern, except that tho benchmark for Rural Hoaltb 
Physicians shall bo upgraded to Grade 24.] THE DEPARTMENT 
OF HEALTH, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT 
OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT, IS HEREBY MANDATED 
TO ESTABLISH A NEW SALARY SCALE FOR PUBLIC 
HEALTH WORKERS FOLLOWING THE SALARY GRADE 
UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11466, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE "SALARY STANDARDIZATION LAW OF 2019": 
PROVIDED, THAT THE BENCHMARK FOR RURAL HEALTH 
PHYSICIANS SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 24 WHILE NURSE 
I SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 16.
XXX.
Sec. 3. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna 
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:


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"Sec. 20. Additional Compensation. - Notwithstanding Section
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12 of Republic Act No. 6758 and provisions of Republic Act No.
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11466, public health workers shall receive the following
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ADDITIONAL allowances: hazard allowance, SPECIAL RISK
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ALLOWANCE, subsistence allowance, RICE SUBSIDY
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ALLOWANCE, longevity pay, laundry AND CLOTHING
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allowance, and remote assignment allowance."
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Sec. 4. Section 21 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
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Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
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"Sec. 21. Hazard Allowance. - [Public health workers in hospitals,
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sanitaria,—rural health units, main health centers, health
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infirmaries,—barangay—health—stations,—clinics—and—other
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healthrelated establishments located in difficult areas, strife-tom
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Of embattled areas, distressed or isolated stationsT-prison camps,
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mental—hospitals,—radiation exposed—clinics,—laboratories or
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disease infested areas or in areas declared under state of calamity
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or omergency for the duration thereof which expose them to
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great danger, contagion, radiation, volcanic activity/eruption,
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occupational risk or perils to life as determined -by-the Secretary
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of Health, shall be compensated hazard allowances equivalent-te
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at least twenty-five-percent (25%) of the monthly basic salary of
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health workers receiving salary grade 19 and below, and five
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percent (5%) for health workers with salary grade 20 and above.]
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ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS PERFORMING HEALTH
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AND HEALTH-RELATED WORK REGARDLESS OF WORK
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LOCATION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HAZARD ALLOWANCE
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AMOUNTING TO FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000.00) PER
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MONTH: PROVIDED, THAT THIS RATE SHALL BE
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EXEMPTED FROM INCOME TAX: PROVIDED, FURTHER,


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THAT RATE SHALL BE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY AND 
INCREASED ACCORDINGLY BY THE SECRETARY OF 
HEALTH IN CONSULTATION WITH THE APPROPRIATE 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES."
Sec. 5. A new Section 21-A shall be inserted after Section 21 of Republic Act No. 
7305 which shall read as follows:
"SEC. 21-A. RISK PROTECTION ALLOWANCE. - PUBLIC 
HEALTH WORKERS, WHERE THE PERFORMANCE OF 
THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND LOCATION 
OF WORK EXPOSE THEM TO GREAT DANGER, 
OCCUPATIONAL RISKS, PERIL TO LIFE, AND PHYSICAL 
HARDSHIPS, IN AREAS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AS 
DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, SHALL BE 
ENTITLED TO RISK PROTECTION ALLOWANCE OF AT 
LEAST TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT (25%) OF THE MONTHLY 
BASIC SALARY."
Sec. 6. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna 
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
"Sec. 22. Subsistence Allowance. - Public health workers who 
are required to render service within OR NEAR the premises of 
[hospitals, sonitoria, health infirmaries, main health centers, r-ural
health units and barangay health stations, or clinics, and other
health-related establishments] HEALTH FACILITIES AND 
OTHER RELATED ESTABLISHMENTS in order to make their 
services available at any and all times, shall be entitled to full 
subsistence allowance of three (3) meals which may be computed 
in accordance with prevailing circumstances as determined by the 
Secretary of Health in consultation with the Management-Health


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Worker's Consultative Councils, as established under Section 33 
of this Act: PROVIDED, THAT SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE 
SHALL BE COMPUTED NOT LOWER THAN SEVENTY FIVE 
PESOS (Php75.00) PER MEAL: Provided, FURTHER, That 
representation and travel allowance shall be given to rural health 
physicians as enjoyed by municipal agriculturists, municipal 
planning and development officers and budget officers."
Sec. 7. A new Section 22-A shall be inserted after Section 22 of Republic Act No.
7305 which shall read as follows:
"SEC. 22-A. RICE SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE. - ALL PUBLIC 
HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RICE 
SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE IN THE FORM OF CASH 
AMOUNTING TO ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY 
PESOS (Pl,250.00).
Sec. 8. Section 23 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
"Section 23. Longevity Pay. - A monthly longevity pay equivalent 
to five percent (5%) of the monthly basic pay shall be paid to a 
health worker for every five (5) years of continuous, efficient and 
meritorious services rendered as certified by the chief of office 
concerned, commencing with the service after the approval of 
this Act.: PROVIDED, THAT FOR EVERY TEN YEARS OF 
SERVICE, THEY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SPECIAL 
LONGEVITY PAY AMOUNTING TO ONE (1) MONTH OF 
BASIC SALARY."
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Sec. 9. Section 24 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
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Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
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"Section 24. Laundry AND CLOTHING Allowance. - All public 
health workers who are required to wear uniforms regularly shall 
be entitled to laundry AND CLOTHING allowance equivalent to 
[One hundred twenty-five pesos (P125.QQ-)] FIVE HUNDRED 
PESOS (P500.00) per month: provided, that this rate shall be 
reviewed periodically and increased accordingly by the Secretary 
of Health in consultation with the appropriate government 
agencies concerned taking into account existing laws and 
prevailing practices."
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Sec. 10. Section 28 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
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Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows:
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"Section 28. Compensation for Injuries. - Public health workers 
shall be protected against the consequences of employment 
injuries in accordance with existing law. Injuries incurred while 
doing overtime work shall be presumed work-connected.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY, 
PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS WHO MAY BE INJURED OR 
CONTRACT ANY DISEASE WHILE IN THE PERFORMANCE 
OF THEIR DUTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AN AMOUNT 
OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00): 
PROVIDED, THAT THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION PESOS 
(P1,000,000.00) SHALL BE GIVEN TO PUBLIC HEALTH 
WORKERS WHO MAY DIE WHILE IN THE PERFORMANCE


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OF THEIR DUTY: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT 
ENTITLEMENT TO COMPENSATION UNDER THIS 
SECTION SHALL NOT PRECLUDE PUBLIC HEALTH 
WORKERS TO CLAIM ANY OTHER BENEFITS FOR THE 
SAME INJURY PROVIDED FOR BY OTHER LAWS."
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Sec. 11. Free Continuing Professional Development. - The Department of 
Health shall provide free Continuing Professional Development training for public health 
worker professionals who are required to undertake such program as a requirement 
for the renewal of their professional identification cards under the regulation of 
Professional Regulatory Commission as mandated by Republic Act No.
10912 or the "Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016".
Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health after 
consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government as well as professional and 
health workers' organizations or unions, shall formulate and prepare the revised 
implementing rules and regulation of the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers in 
accordance with this Act.
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules 
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 15. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,