Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (Republic Act No. 7305) was signed into 
law almost 30 years ago "to promote and improve the social and economic well-being 
of the health workers, their living and working conditions and terms of employment”. 
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how this law became unfortunately outdated. 
Those standing on the frontlines risk their lives in exchange for meager compensation 
and delayed benefits. Further, it was revealed that thousands of healthcare workers 
failed to receive their hazard pay on time.  
This proposed measure seeks to amend the existing Magna Carta of Public Health 
Workers and ensure that public health workers are appropriately compensated and 
provided with their well-deserved incentives and benefits. Such measures are crucial 
in assisting and protecting our health workers, thereby strengthening the better 
delivery of quality healthcare services for all. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
August 3, 2023
12:01 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7305, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA 
CARTA OF PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
SECTION 9. Discrimination Prohibited. – A public health worker shall not be 
discriminated against with regard to SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND 
gender IDENTITY, civil status, AGE, DISABILITY, [creed;] religious or political 
beliefs AND AFFILIATIONS, [and ethnic groupings] OR ETHNICITY in the 
exercise of his/her profession. 
Sec. 2. Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
SECTION 18. Night Shift Differential. – 
a)
Every public health worker shall be paid a night shift differential of [ten]
TWENTY percent [(10%)] (20%) of his/her regular wage for each hour
of work performed during the night shifts customarily adopted by
hospitals.
b)
Every health worker required to work on the period covered after his/her
regular schedule shall be entitled to his/her regular wage plus the regular
overtime rate and an additional amount of [ten] TWENTY percent [(10%)]
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(20%) of such overtime rate for each hour of work performed between 
[ten (10)] SIX (6) o'clock in the evening to six (6) o'clock in the morning. 
 
Sec. 3. Section 21 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
SECTION 18. Hazard Allowance. – [Public health workers in hospitals, 
sanitaria, rural health units, main health centers, health infirmaries, barangay 
health stations, clinics and other health related establishments located in 
difficult areas, strife torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, 
prison camps, mental hospitals, radiation exposed clinics, laboratories or 
disease infested areas or in areas declared under state of calamity or 
emergency for the duration thereof which expose them to great danger, 
contagion, radiation, volcanic activity/eruption, occupational risks or perils to life 
as determined by the Secretary of Health or the Head of the unit with the 
approval of the Secretary of Health, shall be compensated hazard allowances 
equivalent toat least twenty-five percent (25%) of the monthly basic salary of 
health workers receiving salary grade 19 and below, and five percent (5%) for 
health workers with salary grade 20 and above.] BY 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 TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00) WITHOUT 
PREJUDICE TO AN INCREASE TO THIS AMOUNT AS MAY BE 
DETERMINED IN THE FUTURE BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH. 
 
Sec. 4. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
SECTION 22. Subsistence Allowance. – [Public health workers who are 
required to render service within the premises of hospitals, sanitaria, health 
infirmaries, main health centers, rural health units and barangay health stations, 
or clinics, and other health related establishments in order to make their 
services available at any and all times, shall be entitled to full subsistence 
allowance of three (3) meals which may be computed in accordance with 


 
prevailing circumstances as determined by the Secretary of Health in 
consultation with the Management Health Workers’ Consultative Councils, as 
established under Section 33 of this Act: Provided, That representation and 
travel allowance shall be given to rural health physicians as enjoyed by 
municipal agriculturists, municipal planning and development officers and 
budget officers.] ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE ENTITLED 
TO FULL SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE EQUIVALENT TO THREE 
HUNDRED PESOS (P300.00) PER DAY FOR RENDERING ACTUAL 
SERVICES WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO AN INCREASE TO THIS AMOUNT 
AS MAY BE DETERMINED IN THE FUTURE BY THE SECRETARY OF 
HEALTH. 
 
Sec. 5. Section 24 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
SECTION 24. Laundry Allowance. – All public health workers who are required 
to wear uniforms regularly shall be entitled to laundry allowance equivalent to 
[One hundred twenty five pesos (P125.00)] FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) 
per month: Provided, That this rate shall be reviewed periodically and increased 
accordingly by the Secretary of Health in consultation with the appropriate 
government agencies concerned taking into account existing laws and 
prevailing practices. 
 
Sec. 6. Section 35 of Republic Act No. 7305 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
SECTION 35. Rules and Regulation. – 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 [Rules and regulations issued pursuant to this Section] shall 
take effect thirty (30) days after publication in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
 


 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional and invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof 
which shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, administrative orders, and 
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly.  
 
Sec. 9. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,