The Philippine nurses has now the reason to smile, as the Senate recently approved the basic salary increase at salary grade 15 or P31,545 per month.
Sen. Richard Gordon, one of the lawmakers who supported the bill lauded the Senate for "not been sleeping on the job", Gordeon stated that nurses deserve the approval to properly implement Section 32 of Republic Act 9173 or The Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.
"For a long time, the nurses of the country have been clamoring for the adjustment of their salaries. They are given low paying jobs with no benefits, and hospitals have taken advantage of this system in a way that these hospitals become stepping stones for nurses to work abroad," Gordon said.
Gordon has been very supportive of the nursing sector as he recognizes its vital role to public health and realizes the need for healthcare workers in the country especially in the countryside.
Last July, he filed a bill amending Republic Act No. 9173 or The Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 that proposes a new comprehensive policy for Filipino nurses that will give them opportunities to advance themselves in the nursing field while they serve the country's growing needs for healthcare professionals.
"We’re so much closer to giving that justice not just to our nurses, but to our people in need of better health care,"he added.
Senator Bong Go, who also supported the salary increase said that he wanted the nurses to enjoy the salary increase by next year.
"I also want to commend the committee on finance and our distinguished colleagues for taking measures that would allow us to implement the SC decision upholding the validity of Section 32 of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, which provides that the ‘minimum base pay of nurses working in the public health institutions shall not be lower than Salary Grade 15," Go said.
"This is a long overdue compensation denied to them. We won’t make (Filipino nurses) wait anymore… They will have salary increase next year," Go added.
"The implementation of the salary adjustment shall take effect when the decision of the (SC) had become final and executory, but not earlier than the start of Fiscal Year 2020," the provision read.
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