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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
INCREASING THE MINIMUM SALARY OF NURSES IN THE PUBLIC AND 
PRIVATE SECTOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Nurses are the most numerous professionals in most hospitals. On duty for 8-12 
hours, they care for the sick 24/7, at the risk of their very own lives. They are considered 
“heroes” in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Their commitment to service and 
the nursing profession have cost them their very own lives. Yet, our Filipino nurses are 
among the least paid compared to their counterparts in other countries. 
Filipino registered nurses earn the least compared to their peers in the Southeast 
Asian region based on a 2020 study by iPrice Group. Filipino nurses only earn around 
₱40,381 per month, 57% less than their peers in Vietnam, where nurses are paid ₱62,200 
per month.  
Based on data from the Economic Research Institute-Powered Company Salary 
Expert, nurses in other countries earn much more. Nurses earn a monthly pay of ₱236,000 
in Singapore, ₱97,000 in Malaysia, and ₱83,000 in Thailand. 
The government has been oblivious to the situation of nurses. Calls and demands of 
nurses for higher salaries and salary upgrading fell on deaf ears and were even openly 
opposed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) despite having a clear 
provision in Republic Act 9173 or Philippine Nursing Act of 2002. Save for minimal salary 
increases provided by the Salary Standardization Laws, which are only for the public sector, 
no program or law from the past and present administration ever increased the salary of 
September 8, 2022
2:46 pm
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nurses. 
 
 
Worse, in 2016, former President Benigno Aquino III vetoed the Comprehensive 
Nursing Bill because of the provision for Salary Grade 15 for public sector nurses. 
 
 
On October 8, 2019, the Supreme Court declared as valid Section 32 of Republic 
Act 9173 or the Philippine Nursing Act, which states that “the minimum base pay of nurses 
working in public health institutions shall not be lower than salary grade 15.” On December 
13, 2019, the Supreme Court released the final and executory decision. 
 
 
It took 18 long years of struggle by our health workers for the nurses to be accorded 
their rightful salaries as mandated by RA 9173. From ₱22,316/month (Salary Grade 11) 
under the SSL IV, it was finally upgraded to ₱32,053/month under the first tranche of the 
SSL V. In 2022 under SSL V, the entry salary for nurses (nurse 1) in the public sector is 
₱32,097/month. 
 
 
However, the DBM, through Budget Circular 2021-2, excluded nurses employed in 
government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial 
institutions (GFIs) covered by RA 10149 or the GOCC Act of 2001. The Budget Circular 
also excluded nurses hired without employee-employer relationship and funded from non-
Personnel Services appropriations/budgets. The said employees, including nurses, are 
exempted from RA 6758 and are implementing their respective Compensation and Position 
Classification System (CPCS). Moreover, salary adjustment of contractuals and casuals are 
dependent on availability of funds. 
 
 
While nurses in the public and private sector perform the same tasks and are exposed 
to the same risks, private sector nurses ironically are in a worse situation. According to the 
Department of Labor and Employment Bureau of Local Employment, the entry-level 
registered nurse receives a monthly salary of ₱8,000 to ₱13,500, while hospital-hired nurses 
earn only ₱9,757.  
 
 
Some private sector nurses are even paid only ₱5,000 to ₱10,000 per month, with 
salaries pegged at the minimum daily wage in the region. These are far below the ₱570/day 
minimum wage or ₱12,397.50/month1 for workers in the National Capital Region. 
 
 
 
Furthermore, private sector nurses are not given benefits, such as hazard pay, 
subsistence pay and other benefits enjoyed by their counterparts in the public sector. Even 
during the COVID-19 pandemic, very few private facilities provide hazard pay to the 
nurses and other health workers. Benefits like special risk allowance and COVID-19 hazard 
pay were belatedly extended to the private sector nurses through the Bayanihan to Recover 
As One Act or Bayanihan 2 only when numerous COVID-related deaths among the health 
workers, including nurses, were reported. 
 
 
In 2018, according to NEDA, ₱42,000 per month is needed by a family of five to 
live decently. With the measly salaries they are receiving, nurses could not afford their 
families’ basic needs.   
                                               
1 Computed by multiplying with 261 days, then dividing it by 12 months 


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No wonder most Filipino nurses would rather work abroad despite the risks and 
hazards, and deployment ban. 
 
 
It is simply unreasonable for the government to expect nurses to stay and serve yet 
refuse to provide them with adequate salaries, benefits, job security and protection. It is not 
right for the government to demand that nurses stay in our country and render service when 
it could not fulfill its basic responsibility to provide security of tenure, humane working 
conditions and a living wage to workers including the nurses as enshrined in the 1987 
Constitution. 
 
 
It is high time we truly and concretely recognize the role and contribution of our 
nurses who are providing care and saving lives not only during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
We have to care for and protect our nurses and health workers, so they can provide care 
and services to the Filipino people. 
 
 
During the 15th Congress, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño filed House Bill 5230, 
which seeks to increase the salary grade of nurses in the public sector from SG 11 to 15. It 
was refiled during the 16th, 17th, and 18th Congresses. For the salary increase of private 
nurses, Bayan Muna Reps. Ferdinand Gaite, Carlos Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, ACT 
Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan 
Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago filed HB 7851 during the 18th Congress. 
 
 
In line with the clamor to increase the minimum salary of nurses in both the public 
and private sectors, this Bill is being refiled to increase the monthly salary of nurses to 
₱50,000, regardless of employment status and agency classification. 
 
 
The urgent passage of this Bill, thus, is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
________________________________ 
Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO 
ACT Teachers Party-List 
 
 
 
 
________________________________ 
Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS 
GABRIELA Women’s Party 
 
 
________________________________ 
Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
KABATAAN Party-List 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
INCREASING THE MINIMUM SALARY OF NURSES IN THE PUBLIC AND 
PRIVATE SECTOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as “The Salary Increase for 
Nurses Act of 2022.” 
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 public and private 
health facilities, whether regular, or non-regular, including contractual, contract of 
service, job-order, casual, and project-based: Provided, That, the minimum salary for 
nurses shall apply in all public health facilities regardless of nurses’ employment status 
and agency classification: 
(a) whether regular, or non-regular, including contractuals, contract of service, job-
order, casuals, co-terminus, project-based and outsourced; 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 present minimum monthly salary for 
nurses shall be equivalent to Fifty thousand pesos (₱50,000) per month or equivalent to 
salary grade (SG) 19 of the Salary Standardization Law, as amended. The Job Grade 
and salary levels of nurses employed in GOCCs/GFIs covered by Republic Act 10149 
shall also be upgraded and shall be equivalent  to the SG 19  under the current Salary 
Standardization Law: Provided, That the minimum salary shall be increased and 
adjusted accordingly based on  Nurse 1 salary  in the public sector; Provided further, 
That salaries of those occupying higher positions shall be adjusted accordingly; 
Provided finally, That for micro, small and medium health facilities, the principal 
employer may apply for a subsidy program for the salary upgrade of its nurses for a 
maximum period of three (3) years, subject to the implementing rules and regulations 
of this Act. 
 
SEC. 5. Sanctions. – A fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos 
(₱500,000,000.00)  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 agencies, juridical persons, 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 
Labor and Employment, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate 
the necessary rules and regulations of the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. – The Government shall appropriate such amounts 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. 8. Separability Clause. – Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the validity or constitutionality of the other provisions shall not be 
affected thereby. 


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SEC. 9. 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. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,