Rural Health Unit Workers Incentives and Other Benefits Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 JUL 15 P2:12 First Regular Session SENATE RECEN S. No. _ Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT GRANTING INCENTIVES AND OTHER BENEFITS TO RURAL HEALTH UNIT WORKERS EXPLANATORY NOTE Rural health unit workers play an indispensable role in preserving and enhancing the health of rural inhabitants. These workers offer their service to far- flung areas, which, like any other areas, are deeply in need of essential health services. Geographically speaking, the distribution of healthcare professionals including nurses, doctors, and midwives in the country is grossly disproportionate. There appears to be a concentration on few rural health unit workers since most of them are more likely to work in cities and municipalities that have greater access to amenities like hospitals and clinics. Rural health workers' contribution was particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when the country's health system was overwhelmed. Residents living in the rural areas struggled in accessing proper health care but the rural health workers played an integral role in ensuring that proper health supervision will be extended in those areas. Given the dedication of the rural health unit workers, it is imperative that proper incentives and benefits should be granted to them. Thus, this bill seeks to provide incentives to rural health unit workers such as hazard allowance, subsistence allowance, and scholarships in the form of tuition fees and stipends. These assistance will serve as a recognition for their efforts and hard work in delivering services to remote areas. Therefore, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR poc

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 JUL 15 P2:12 First Regular Session SENATE RECEN S. No. 647 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR GRANTING INCENTIVES AND OTHER BENEFITS TO RURAL HEALTH UNIT WORKERS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Rural Health Unit

Workers Incentives and other Benefits Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall protect and promote the right to

health of people and instill health consciousness among them by giving each individual unimpaired access to health and information services. Towards this end, this Act shall provide incentives and benefits to rural health unit doctors, the front-liners in the promotion, protection and maintenance of health in the rural areas.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - The term "rural health workers" shall refer to all

persons who are engaged in health and health-related work, and all persons employed in rural health units operated by Government or its political subdivisions with original charters and shall include medical, allied health professional, administrative and support personnel employed regardless of their employment status.

Sec. 4. Incentives and Benefits. - In recognition of their services, rural unit health

workers shall, in addition to their incentives and benefits granted under existing laws, be entitled to the following: a.) hazard allowance in an amount to be determined by the local health board of the local government unit concerned;

b.) subsistence allowance equivalent to the meals they take in the course of their duty which shall be computed in accordance with prevailing circumstances as determined by the local government unit concerned; and c.) scholarships in the form of tuition fees and stipends.

Sec. 5. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act shall be

declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following

its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,