THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
S.B. NO. :2s 
Introduced by HON. RAMON BONG REVILLA, 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 left the Philippines as nurses. 
Further, nearly 80% of 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 of this bill is earnestly sought. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
Introduced by HON. 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 of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
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 be 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,