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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
On March 26, 1992, Republic Act (RA) No. 7305, also known as "The Magna 
Carta of Public Health Workers," came into effect. Its purpose was to enhance the 
well-being of health workers, improve their working conditions and terms of 
employment, develop their skills, and encourage qualified individuals to join and 
remain in government service. 
However, as more than three decades have passed, the economic landscape 
has changed. It has become necessary to review the benefits and incentives provided 
by RA No. 7305 to our health workers. The existing benefits are no longer proportional 
to the nature of the services they provide. 
Public health workers (PHWs) are at the forefront of delivering healthcare 
services. Their significant contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic have 
demonstrated their dedication, even at personal risk. They deserve reasonable 
benefits and incentives for their commitment to public service. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RON P. SALO   
 KABAYAN Party List 
September 12, 2023
4:31 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo 
AN ACT 
FURTHER PROMOTING THE GENERAL WELFARE, AND ENHANCING THE 
STATUTORY BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES, OF PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
7305, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA OF PUBLIC HEALTH 
WORKERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 
“SEC. 3. Definition. - For purposes of this Act, "health workers" shall mean all 
persons who are engaged in health and health-related work, and all persons 
employed in the Department of Health (DOH) Central Office (CO), Centers for 
Health Development (CHD), Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (TRC), 
Attached Agencies (AA), Provincial Health Office (PHO), City Health Office 
(CHO), Municipal Health Office (MHO) and all public hospitals, sanitaria,  health 
centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics,  and other health-
related establishments owned and operated by the Government or its political 
subdivisions with original charters and shall include medical, allied health 
professionals, administrative and support personnel employed in other national 
government agencies (NGAs), including State Universities and Colleges 
(SUCs), Government-Owned and Controlled- Corporations (GOCCs), 
Government Finance Institutions (GFIs) and Local Government Units (LGUs) 
holding permanent or temporary status; casual or contractual whose salaries 
are charged against Personal Services (PS) lump sum appropriation, rendering 
services on full-time or part-time basis and whose positions are  covered by 
Republic Act No. 6758  otherwise known as the “Compensation and Position 
Classification Act of 1989.” 
SEC. 2. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“SEC. 9. Discrimination Prohibited. - A Public Health Worker (PHW) shall not 
be discriminated against with regard to political or religious affiliations, sex, 
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sexual orientation and gender identity, civil status, age, disability, or ethnicity in 
the exercise of his or her profession.”  
 
SEC. 3. Section 11 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
 
“SEC. 11. Administrative Charges. - Administrative charges against a national 
public health worker shall be heard by a committee or officer designated by the 
disciplining authority, or its delegated officer, or officers under its jurisdiction, in 
accordance with Executive Order 292, its implementing rules and regulations, 
and other pertinent civil service laws, rules and regulations. 
 
For local public health workers, administrative charges shall be heard by a 
committee or officer created or designated by the Provincial or City Health 
Board, in accordance with pertinent rules and regulations.  
 
The committee or hearing officer shall submit recommendation to the 
appropriate disciplining authority within thirty (30) days from the termination of 
the investigation and hearings. 
 
Where the provincial health officer or head of health facilities has been 
determined to be an interested party, the members of the committee or the 
designated officer shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health.”                          
 
 SEC. 4. Section 21 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 
 
“SEC. 21. Hazard Allowance. - By the nature of their work, which subject them 
to health hazards and occupational risks, all public health workers regardless 
of the degree of their exposure to such hazards and risks shall be entitled to a 
monthly hazard allowance of Twenty Five Percent (25%) of their basic monthly 
salary across the board without prejudice to increase of this amount as may be 
warranted in the future by the Secretary of Health.” 
 
SEC. 5. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
 
“SEC. 22. Subsistence Allowance. - All Public Health Workers shall be entitled 
to full subsistence allowance which shall not be less than Three Hundred Pesos 
(PhP 300.00) per day for rendering actual services. Provided, That after three 
(3) years from the effectivity of this Act, it shall be increased to Four Hundred 
Pesos (PhP 400.00). Provided further, That after six (6) years from the 
effectivity of this Act, it shall be increased to Five Hundred Pesos (PhP 500.00). 
Provided finally, That it may be further increased by the Secretary of Health, in 
consultation with the Management-Health Worker's Consultative Councils, as 
may be warranted by prevailing circumstances. 
 
SEC. 6. Section 24 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
 


 
 
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“SEC. 24. Laundry Allowance. - All Public Health workers who are required to 
wear uniforms regularly shall be entitled to laundry allowance equivalent to One 
Thousand Pesos (PhP 1,000.00) per month and shall be increased based on 
the prevailing economic circumstances as may be warranted in the future by 
the Secretary of Health in consultation with the Management-Health Workers 
Consultative Council.” 
 
SEC. 7. Section 34 (b) of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 
 
xxx 
 
“b.) opportunity for health workers to grow and develop their potentials and 
experience a sense of worth and dignity in their work. Public health workers 
who undertake relevant post-graduate studies in a degree course shall be 
entitled for an upgrade in  position or promotion, or a raise in pay: Provided, 
That it shall not be more often than every two (2) years: Provided, further, That 
upon promotion to a higher position, the public health worker shall carry over 
and retain the step increment in the position held before the upgrade  in position 
or promotion, or a raise in pay.” 
 
xxx 
 
SEC. 8. Section 35 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
 
“SEC. 35. 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 necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this 
Act, which shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in a newspaper of 
general circulation.” 
 
SEC. 9. Section 36 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
 
“SEC. 36. Periodic Review of the Magna Carta - All provisions with monetary 
implications shall be reviewed by the council periodically to be recommended 
to the Secretary of Health for approval in consultation with the appropriate 
government agencies concerned under existing laws, rules, and regulations. 
and prevailing practices. 
 
SEC. 10. Section 38 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 
 
“SEC. 38. Budget Estimates. - For National Government Agencies (NGAs) 
including SUCs: 
 
The amounts required for the payment of Magna Carta benefits shall be 
charged against the respective agency’s appropriations or budget. The 


 
 
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payment Magna Carta benefits of the public health workers in the government 
shall be charged to the appropriations authorized in the General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). Augmentation thereof from any available savings of the agency shall 
be subject to the approval of the DBM. 
 
The Magna Carta benefits for contractual and casual personnel shall be 
charged against the respective agency lump sum appropriations from which 
their salaries or wages are drawn. For GOCCs and GFIs, the amounts required 
shall be charged against their respective corporate funds in the approved 
corporate operating budget. 
 
SEC. 11.  Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any section, clause, or 
term of this Act is held to be illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional, such parts not affected 
by such declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 12.  Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, 
executive orders, letters of instruction, rules, or regulations inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 13.  Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved.