Health Workers Salary Upgrading Act
Filed on July 21, 2025, and referred to the Committees on Health and Demography, Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, and Finance; it has been pending in committee since August 20, 2025.
This bill addresses the compensation and benefits of public health workers, a critical workforce in the healthcare system.
The bill responds to ongoing issues of inadequate compensation for health workers, especially highlighted during the pandemic.
Health Workers Salary Upgrading Act
The Health Workers Salary Upgrading Act aims to amend the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers to improve the salaries and benefits of public health workers in the Philippines.
Compared with current law:
Public health workers have varying salaries and limited benefits.
Public health workers will have a new salary scale and additional benefits, including hazard pay and rice subsidies.
The main purpose of the Health Workers Salary Upgrading Act is to amend the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers to improve their salaries and benefits, ensuring they are adequately compensated for their work.
Source · full text✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.
Stalled: the bill has sat in committee for over two months with no recorded action since its referral on August 20, 2025.
No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.
Se!l TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 JUL 21 P1:39 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED 2 S. No. 738 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7305 OR THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE During the darkest of times, the best in humanity has come out and light the way through uncertainty. The pandemic did not give birth to the heroism of our health workers but rather highlighted their hard work, dedication to service and love for country-often overlooked and unappreciated. They emerged as one of the frontliners who, without fear, battled COVID-19 head on so that we could survive. The health crisis we had to endure as a nation took greater toll on the physical and emotional wellbeing of our health workers who were constantly separated from their families. They took care of patients, answering the call of duty, considering the welfare of others instead of their own. Some health workers fell ill themselves and paid the price of service with their own lives. It is unfortunate that the sacrifices of our health workers are not inadequately compensated. Acknowledgements and recognitions should not be limited to kind words during eulogies. Though no amount of monetary consideration can equal the service of our health workers, we seek to upgrade their salaries to a more dignified level not only as a form of gratitude but most importantly, giving them justice.
This bill filed during the Nineteenth Congress remained pending in the committee and we took upon the task to refile this measure. It is incumbent to take a chance once again in advocating for what we believe is a noble undertaking of furthering for the interests of health workers. Several amendments to the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers are introduced to promote the rights and properly compensate the services of health workers through better pay and benefits. There is an increase in the entry level salary of medical officers, nurse, dentist, midwife, medical technologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, respiratory therapist, speech therapist, optometrist, pharmacist, and radiologic technologist. Additional compensation and benefits will be given to all public health workers such as supplemental Special Risk Allowance (SRA), across the board hazard pay, rice subsidy allowance, increase in longevity pay, laundry and clothing allowance, and compensation for injuries. The refiling of this measure is our renewed commitment to our health workers; an expression of gratitude and symbol of solidarity. Let this serve as message to our heroes that they are not forgotten by the government. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 00=. JV EJERCITO
Office of tea TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 21 P1:39 SENATE RECEIL.O8 S. No. Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7305 OR THE MAGNA CARTA FOR 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. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Health Workers Salary
Upgrading Act of 2022".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to guarantee
4 the entry and retention of qualified and competent health workers in the public health 5 care system by ensuring the commensurate remuneration for their work loads and the 6 hazards of their respective professions. This policy is in furtherance of the 7 Constitutional mandate to promote the most adequate health care for the people by 8 addressing the need for essential health workers and professionals in all public health care facilities. This Act intends to improve the socio-economic conditions of public health workers and to bolster the public health sector in the government service.
Sec. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows: "Sec. 3. [Definition] COVERAGE. - [For purposes of this Act, "health workers" shall mean all persons who are engaged in health and health related work, and all persons employed in alt hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics and other health related
estabiishments owned and operated by the 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."!" THIS ACT SHALL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, "HEALTH WORKERS" REFER TO PERSONS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED WORK IN A HEALTH FACILITY OR OTHER RELATED ESTABLISHMENT, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, IT SHALL INCLUDE MEDICAL, ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL INCLUDING MAINTENANCE, JANITORIAL AND SECURITY PERSONNEL OF SUCH HEALTH FACILITY OR RELATED ESTABLISHMENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT STATUS."
Sec. 4. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows: "Sec. 19. Salaries. - [In the determination of the salary seale of public health workers, the provisions of Republic Act No. 6758 shall govern, except that the benchmark for Rural Health Physicians shall be upgraded to Grade 24] THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT, IS HEREBY MANDATED TO ESTABLISH A NEW SALARY SCALE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS: PROVIDED, THAT THE BENCHMARK FOR MEDICAL OFFICER 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 17, NURSE 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 16, MIDWIFE 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 10, DENTIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 15, MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 12, PHARMACIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 12,
PHYSICAL THERAPIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 12, RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 12, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 12, RESPIRATORY THERAPIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 11, SPEECH THERAPIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 11 AND OPTOMETRIST 1 SHALL BE SALARY GRADE 13. xxx."
Sec. 5. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows: "Sec. 20. Additional Compensation. - Notwithstanding Section 12 of Republic Act No. 6758 AND THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11466, public HEALTH workers shall receive the following ADDITIONAL allowances: hazard allowance, SPECIAL RISK ALLOWANCE, subsistence allowance, RICE SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE, longevity pay, laundry AND CLOTHING allowance, and remote assignment allowance"
Sec. 6. Section 21 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows: "Sec. 21. Hazard Allowance. - [Public health workers in hospitals, sanitaria, rural heath units, main health centers, health infirmaries, barangay health stations, clinics and other health related establishments located in difficult areas, strife torn of embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, prison camps, mental hospitals, radiation exposed clinics, laboratories of disease infested areas or in areas declared under state of calamity of emergency for the duration thereof which expose them to great danger, contagion, radiation, volcanic activity/eruption, occupational risk or perils to life as determined by the Secretary of Health, shall be compensated hazard allowances equivalent to at least twenty five percent (25%) of the monthly basic salary of
neaith workers receiving salary grade 19 and below, and five percent (5%) for health workers with salary grade 20 and above.] ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS PERFORMING HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED WORK REGARDLESS OF WORK LOCATION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HAZARD ALLOWANCE AMOUNTING TO FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000.00) 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."
Sec. 7. A new Section 21-A shall be inserted after Section 21 of Republic Act
No. 7305 which shall read as follows: "SEC. 21-A. SPECIAL RISK ALLOWANCE. - PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, WHERE THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND LOCATION OF WORK EXPOSE THEM TO GREAT DANGER, OCCUPATIONAL RISKS, PERIL TO LIFE, AND PHYSICAL HARDSHIPS, IN AREAS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AS DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SPECIAL RISK ALLOWANCE OF AT LEAST FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) OF THE MONTHLY BASIC SALARY."
Sec. 8. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows: "Sec. 22. Subsistence Allowance. - Public health workers who are required to render service within OR NEAR the premises of [hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, main health centers, rural health units and barangay health stations, or clinics, and other heath related establishments] HEALTH FACILITIES AND OTHER 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 Worker's Consultative Councils, as established under Section 33 of this Act: PROVIDED, THAT SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE SHALL BE COMPUTED NOT LOWER THAN SEVENTY FIVE PESOS (Php75.00) PER MEAL: Provided, FURTHER, 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."
Sec. 9. A new Section 22-A shall be inserted after Section 22 of Republic Act
No. 7305 which shall read as follows: "SEC. 22-A. RICE SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE. - ALL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RICE SUBSIDY ALLOWANCE IN THE FORM OF CASH AMOUNTING TO ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY PESOS (P1,250.00).
Sec. 10. Section 23 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows: "Section 23. Longevity Pay. - A monthly longevity pay equivalent to five percent (5%) of the monthly basic pay shall be paid to a health worker for every five (5) years of continuous, efficient and meritorious services rendered as certified by the chief of office concerned, commencing with the service after the approval of this Act.: PROVIDED, THAT FOR EVERY TEN (10) YEARS OF SERVICE, THEY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SPECIAL LONGEVITY PAY AMOUNTING TO ONE (1) MONTH OF BASIC SALARY."
Sec. 11. Section 24 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows: "Section 24. Laundry AND CLOTHING Allowance. - All public health workers who are required to wear uniforms regularly shall be entitled to laundry AND CLOTHING allowance equivalent to Lone 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. 12. Section 28 of Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta for Public Health Workers" is hereby amended as follows: "Section 28. Compensation for Injuries. - Public health workers shall be protected against the consequences of employment injuries in accordance with existing law. Injuries incurred while doing overtime work shall be presumed work-connected. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY, PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS WHO MAY BE INJURED OR CONTRACT ANY DISEASE WHILE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AN AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00): PROVIDED, THAT THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION PESOS (P1,000,000.00) SHALL BE GIVEN TO PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS WHO MAY DIE WHILE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT ENTITLEMENT TO COMPENSATION UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL NOT PRECLUDE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS TO CLAIM ANY OTHER BENEFITS FOR THE SAME INJURY PROVIDED FOR BY OTHER LAWS."
Sec. 13. Free Continuing Professional Development. - The Department of
Health shall provide free Continuing Professional Development training for public health worker professionals who are required to undertake such program as a requirement for the renewal of their professional identification cards under the regulation of Professional Regulatory Commission as mandated by Republic Act No. 10912 or the "Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016".
Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health after
consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government as well as professional and
1 health workers' organizations or unions, shall formulate and prepare the revised 2 implementing rules and regulation of the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers in accordance with this Act.
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.
Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 17. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,
Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.