FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
7 JUL -3 iilt '52 
First Regular Session 
1 
) 
~~~~1~~~ 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 73G 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revillr, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 11, Article 13 of the 1987 Constitution espouses the commitment of the 
state to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which 
shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all 
people at affordable cost. 
One of the most alarming phenomena besetting the government today is the mass 
exodus of health professionals to foreign lands. In the mid-70's, 68 percent of Filipino 
doctors were working outside the country as doctors. But nowadays, they are leaving the 
country to work not as doctors but as nurses. As a matter of fact, medical doctors are now 
studying to become nurses so they could work abroad. In 2003-2004, more than 2,700 
physicians took the Philippine Board of Nursing Licensure Examination while an 
estimated 9,000 more are enrolled in 45 nursing schools who are offering "customized" 
courses for physicians all over the country. Since 2001, around 5,000 doctors have leR 
the Philippines as nurses. Further, nearly 80% o f  our public health physicians have taken 
up or are enrolled in nursing. Poor working conditions as opposed to the attractive 
salaries and compensation package offered abroad have been cited as the primary reasons 
for the career shift among our public health physicians. 
Our current estimated doctor-to-patient ratio is way behind the acceptable ratio of 
the World Health Organization which is 1 doctor for 10,000 people. Our country has one 
government doctor for every 20,000 population. If the government does not address this 
outflow of our doctors, the delivery of our health systems will be greatly compromised. 
This bill seeks to our doctors to stay in the country by providing for an increase in 
the salary of the government doctors to at least Grade 28 as well as the educational 
benefits of their children. 
Thus, the immediate approval ofthis bill is earnestly sought, 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
7 JUL -3 mi :;3 
* .;T? 
.- f 
RECEIVED Bv: -I 
S.B. SENA% 
No. 
6 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE SALARY OF 
GOVERNMENT DOCTORS AND FOR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR 
THEIR CHILDREN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives oj’ the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. -It hereby the policy of the state to ensure 
adequate delivery of public health services and in pursuance thereto to provide economic 
incentives to government-employed doctors so that they will be encouraged to stay in the 
country. 
SEC. 2. Coverage. - The provisions of this Act embrace all physicians employed 
in the government which includes both national and local governments. As used in this 
Act, a government physician is a Doctor of Medicine duly licensed by the Professional 
Regulatory Commission employed in government hospitals, public health institutions or 
government agency. 
SEC. 3. Raising Salary Grade to Provide Increase. - In order to bolster the 
morale of government-employed physicians, strengthen their commitment to serve and 
enhance their professionalism, their minimum base pay is hereby adjusted to Salary 
Grade 28 prescribed under Republic Act No. 6578, otherwise known as the 
“Compensation and Classification Act of 1989”. Provided, that for physicians employed 
in local government units, adjustments to their salaries shall he according to Section 10 of 
said Act. 
Sec. 4. Educational Benefits for Children. - Children of doctors employed in 
government hospitals, health institutions or agencies for at least five (5) years are hereby 
provided full scholarship in state or government supported universities or colleges for 
degrees leading to the College of Medicine and for the Degree in Doctor of Medicine, 
provided further, that upon being licensed to practice their profession by the 
Professionals Commission, they shall serve as doctors in government hospitals, health 
institutions and agencies for at least five (5) years. Failure of the beneficiaries to comply 
with this provision will require them to reimburse the total cost of their scholarship to the 


state or government-supported universities or colleges where they completed their pre- 
medical and medical degrees. 
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC.6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
SEC 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,