Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SALARY GRADE 16 MINIMUM 
MONTHLY SALARY FOR NURSES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Public nurses are essential to the Philippine healthcare system, providing critical care in 
hospitals, communities, and rural health units. However, their current compensation often fails to 
reflect the complexity and significance of their work. Institutionalizing salary grade 16 ensures 
fair and competitive wages, recognizing their professional qualifications, responsibilities, and the 
risks they face daily, in line with the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002which mandates improved 
nurse compensation but also acknowledges the critical role nurses play in safeguarding public 
health. 
Offering salary grade 16 to public nurses is a practical step in addressing the severe 
shortage of healthcare workers in the country. Many Filipino nurses seek opportunities abroad 
due to inadequate local salaries, leading to a brain drain that undermines the healthcare system. 
Retaining skilled nurses enhances the country's ability to respond to public health emergencies 
and sustain its healthcare infrastructure. 
As it’s the State’s commitment to valuing healthcare workers and fostering equity in the 
public sector, this bill aims to set the minimum salary of government nurses to Salary Grade 16.  
 A similar Bill was first filed by Bayan Muna Party-List Reps. Ferdinand Gaite, Carlos 
Zarate and Eufemia Cullamat, ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women's 
Party Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Party-List Rep. Sarah Elago in the 18th Congress as 
House Bill 7517. 
January 13, 2025
5:30 pm
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In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is urgently sought. 
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SALARY GRADE 16 MINIMUM 
MONTHLY SALARY FOR NURSES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as "The Nurses' Salary Upgrading Act of 
2024." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the Government's concern and responsibility to provide 
adequate remuneration and benefits of health workers to enhance general welfare and to attract 
and retain its rightful share of talents with the end in view of fulfilling the state policy of 
providing essential health services to all Filipinos. 
SEC. 3. Coverage. – The minimum salary shall cover all nurses in all public health facilities: 
(a) whether regular, or non-regular, including contractuals, contract of service, job- order,
casuals, co-terminus and project-based, and
(b) whether nationally or locally-funded, including Government-Owned and Controlled
Corporations (GOCCs), Government Financial Institutions (GFIs), and Local
Government Units regardless of classification.
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SEC. 4. Minimum Salary for Nurses. – The minimum monthly salary for nurses shall be 
equivalent to salary grade (SG) "16" of the Salary Standardization Law. Salary grade levels and 
salaries of Nurse 2 and higher shall be adjusted accordingly. The Job Grade and salary levels of 
nurses employed in GOCCs/GFIs covered by RA 10149 shall also be upgraded and shall be 
equivalent to the SG 16 under the current Salary Standardization Law. 
 
SEC. 5. Sanctions. –A fine of not less than five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000,000) and/or 
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than two (2) years shall be imposed upon 
violation of any of the provisions hereof. 
 
Provided, That, for violations committed by government agencies, juridical persons, including 
local government units or any other entity, the head of the agency and Board of Directors or 
executive officials of the agency shall assume full responsibility. 
 
SEC. 6. Refund and Compensation. – Any nurse found to have been a victim of violation of any 
section of this Act shall be entitled to backwages and full payment of unpaid benefits. In 
addition, he/she shall be entitled to refund of interest and attorney's fees to be paid by the agency 
if he/she is forced to litigate. 
 
SEC. 7. Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Health and the Department of Budget and 
Management shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations of the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 8. Appropriation. – The Government shall appropriate such amount as may be necessary 
to carry out the objectives of this Act. Initial funds required for the implementation of this Act 
shall be sourced from the General Appropriations Act Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund and 
other possible sources that may be determined by the Office of the President. The subsequent 
funds needed for national public health institutions shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act in the allotment for the particular facility or institution.  
 
For devolved health agencies, funding shall be included in the annual budget allotment for the 
provincial and district hospitals and local health units. Provided, That, should certain Local 
Government Units have insufficient funds, they may request for a subsidy from the National 
Government. Provided, Further, that GOCCs shall include in their respective corporate budget 
the funds necessary to implement the upgraded salaries of nurses. 
 
SEC. 9. Constitutionality. – Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the validity or constitutionality of the other provisions shall not be affected 
thereby. 
 


SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, letters of instructions, resolutions, orders, 
ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,