Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
______ Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the Journal of Global Health, the world faced the COVID-19 
pandemic with a 5.9 million shortage of nurses. Asia has the lowest density of nurses 
in the world even though it is the largest supplier of nurses to other regions. The 
Philippines alone supplied 240,000 nurses to other Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development (OECD) countries, making it the largest supplier of nurses 
to OECD countries. But juxtaposed to it is the reality that the country has been facing 
a severe shortage of nurses in government and private hospitals since the COVID-19 
pandemic started. And now, as the economy strives to recover and open amidst the 
ongoing threat of COVID-19 and other health crises, this shortage is emphasized once 
more. According to the Department of Health, there are 172,589 nurses working in 
public and private hospitals here in the Philippines. However, that is just 19% of the 
total registered nurses we produce, which means that 35% of registered nurses opt to 
look for opportunities outside the country. Low compensation and benefits and 
overwork, especially amidst the recent health crisis, have resulted to worrisome 
understaffing in our hospitals. 
The Department of Health recommends that the nurse-to-patient ratio not 
exceed 1:12, but the current reality does not reflect that, especially as we face the 
ongoing health crises. Nurses make up almost half of the healthcare professionals in 
the country. Still, as of October 31, 2021, there were 8.03 nurses per 10,000 population 
in the Philippines. This shortage is further compounded by the lack of levels in the 
nursing profession allowed to work in the country. In the United States and other 
Western nations as well as other Asian countries, there are four (4) levels of the 
nursing profession: 
1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), a four-month course
2. Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), a 12-month program
3. Associate Degree in Nursing (AND), a 20-24-month course, and;
4. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a 5-year course
However, according to the Professional Regulation Commission, only the 
holders of a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from a college or university that complies 
with the standards of nursing education duly recognized by the proper government 
agency can practice nursing in the Philippines.  
Therefore, this means that there are almost no opportunities for those who wish 
to enter the profession but are not graduates of BS Nursing, and registered nurses 
feel the brunt of all responsibilities they could otherwise share with other nursing 
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practitioners. This contributes to the faster burnout, overwork, and resignation of our 
frontlines. 
In line with this, this bill proposes readopting the Associate Degree in Nursing 
(AND), which has been previously offered in the country until the mid-80s as a three-
year program, that provided previous graduates with numerous opportunities here and 
abroad. This bill also seeks to professionalize the ranks of Nursing Aides to be certified 
as Nursing Assistants competently trained and qualified as nursing support staff. 
Lastly, this bill looks to provide scholarships to ten thousand (10,000) deserving and 
impoverished students nationwide to ensure the success of both the AND and CNA 
programs.  
The immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought in consideration of the 
acute shortage and the plight of the presently overburdened nurses. 
GABRIEL H. BORDADO, JR 
Third District, Camarines Sur 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
______ Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr. 
AN ACT 
READOPTING ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN NURSING, PROFESSIONALIZING 
NURSING ASSISTANT, PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS THERETO AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assemble: 
Section 1. Short Title- This Act shall be known as the “Omnibus Nursing 
Reconciliation Act of 2022”    
Sec.2. Declaration of Policies. While recognizing the critical supply of nurses, the 
state cannot totally compel them to stay in the country and prevent them from looking 
for greener pastures. Their sizable remittances also contribute greatly to the economic 
vibrancy of the country. 
Pursuant to this, it is the policy of the State to maintain a strong, reliable and adequate 
health care services at all times especially during emergencies and pandemics that 
presently confront us. 
Sec. 3. Department of Health. The Department of Health (DOH) is responsible for 
identifying the Regions with the most depressing needs of nursing services. The 
figured number of nurses per Region would be the basis in the allocation and 
assignment of scholars for both Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Certified 
Nursing Assistant (CAN).  
Sec. 4.  Board of Nursing. The Board of Nursing under Professional Regulation 
Commission (PRC) will extend similar regulatory standards in the practice of nursing 
profession to graduates of ADN upon passing the same Nursing Board Examination 
given to BSN. 
Sec. 5. Technical Education and Skills Development. Technical Education and 
Skills Development (TESDA), in consultation with the Board of Nursing will formulate 
a CNA curriculum and national certifying exam consistent with and similar to other 
countries, and create a joint membership Body in the regulatory issuance of 
Certification for Nursing Assistants.    
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Sec. 6. Accredited Nursing Schools. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 
shall set the standard and be in-charge of accrediting schools, which offer Associate 
Degree in Nursing. 
 
Sec. 7. Ladderized Continuing Education. The Board of Nursing and TESDA shall 
formulate curriculums for both CNA and ADN that are geared toward credited 
ladderized subjects eligible as continuing education program in acquiring BSN Degree. 
 
Sec. 8. Appropriation. The Department of Health shall immediately incorporate in 
their next Department’s Program the implementation of this Act. Funding of which shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriation Act. 
Sec. 9. Separability CIause - If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this Act 
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate 
or impair any other part of this Act.  
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause - AlI laws, decrees, executive orders, memorandum 
orders, and other administrative issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act, are hereby modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.  
Sec. 11. Effectivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in any major newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
 
Approved,