EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 235i
5Nt>ex
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANT OF BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION TO 
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH WORKERS IN THE EVENT OF A PUBLIC 
HEALTH EMRGENCY, AS DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented public health crisis in the 
Philippines, overwhelming our already struggling healthcare system. It revealed gaps in 
financing for healthcare and highlighted the meager benefits and compensation being 
received by our healthcare workers. Yet, in our battle against the pandemic, they continue 
to serve and save our people while risking their own lives and being grossly underpaid. 
Healthcare workers are forced to extend their working hours from the regular eight-hour 
shift to 16 hours as they attend to several COVID-19 patients. Nurse-to-patient ratio is 
now 1:35 and at times, 1:100 - very far from the DOH standard ratio of 1:12. Healthcare 
workers are not only overworked and underpaid, they also do not receive their benefits 
and compensation on time.
Hence, in recognition of the invaluable role of healthcare workers as the first line of 
defense against public health threats that pose a risk to the general public, this measure 
seeks to institutionalize the grant of benefits and compensation to healthcare workers in 
the public and private sector in the event of a public health emergency, as declared by 
the President of the Philippines, to promote and protect their rights and welfare. Upon 
declaration of a state of emergency or calamity due to a public health threat, public and 
private healthcare workers who are directly catering to or in contact with persons affected 
by the disease of concern shall be eligible to receive the following: (a) Special Risk' 
Allowance; (b) Active Hazard Duty Pay; (c) Payment of all medical expenses in case of


exposure to the disease or any work-related injury during the state of national 
emergency; (d) Compensation for those who contracted the disease in the line of duty; (e) 
Free life insurance, accommodation, transportation, and meals; and (f) Personal 
protective equipment and free and regular testing.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRANCllN.
GILINAN


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 23S't
sWOf
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANT OF BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION TO 
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH WORKERS IN THE EVENT OF A PUBLIC 
HEALTH EMERGENCY, AS DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Healthcare Frontliners
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Protection Act".
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy, - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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promote and protect the rights and welfare of health workers during national health
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emergencies. The State recognizes the invaluable role of health workers as the first line of
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defense against public health threats that pose risk to the general health and security of
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the Filipino people.
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SEC. 3. Benefits and Compensation. - Upon declaration by the President of the
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Philippines of a state of emergency or calamity due to a public health threat, and pursuant
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to the provisions of Republic Act No. 11332 or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable
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Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act," the State shall provide public
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and private health workers, who are directly catering to or in contact with persons
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afflicted by the disease, the following benefits and compensation:
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(a) Special Risk Allowance for every month that they are serving during the state
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of national emergency as declared by the President;


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(b) 
Active Hazard Duty Pay, in addition to the hazard pay granted under 
Republic Act No. 7305 or the "Magna Carta of Public Health Workers." The 
rate of the hazard pay shall not be more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the 
daily salary rate received by the health worker and shall be based on the 
number of days the health worker physically reports to work in the specific 
section of the hospital directly catering to persons afflicted by the disease 
during the national health emergency;
(c) 
Assumption of all medical expenses of public and private health workers in 
case of exposure to the disease or any work-related injury or disease during 
the state of national emergency as declared by the President;
(d) 
Provision of compensation to public and private health workers who have 
contracted the disease in the line of duty, with the following amounts, upon 
submission of required documents to support claims:
(1) 
In case of death. One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) shall be provided to 
the direct beneficiary of the health worker;
(2) 
In case of sickness that is severe or critical in nature. One Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) shall be provided to the health worker; 
and
(3) 
In case of sickness that is mild or moderate in nature. Fifteen Thousand 
Pesos (P15,000.00) shall be provided to the health worker;
(e) 
Provision of free life insurance, accommodation, transportation, and meals for 
all public and private health workers during the state of national emergency; 
and
(f) 
Provision of personcil protective equipment and free and regular testing.
SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to cany out the initial
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implementation of this Act, for every declaration by the President of a state of public
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health emergency, shall be drawn from the savings of the National Government or the
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Contingent Fund under the General Appropriations Act, upon approval of the President
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of the Philippines. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the implementation of this Act shall
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be included in the General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the
date of effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health shall, in consultation with the 
Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Finance, formulate the 
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.
SEC. 7. Retroactive Application. - The grant of the benefits and compensation, as 
provided in Section 3 of this Act, shall be effective beginning 01 July 2021.
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full
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force and effect.
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SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive and administrative orders, rules,
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and regulations inconsistent with the foregoing provisions are hereby repealed or
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modified accordingly.
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SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall hike effect immediately upon its publication in
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the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,
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