Republic of the PhilippinesHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWELFTH CONGRESSFirst Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4806

_________________________________________________________________________

Introduced by Reps. Satur C. Ocampo, Liza L. Maza, Crispin B. Beltran, Nerissa Soon-Ruiz M.D.,Ted Failon, Filomena ”Nenet” San Juan, Oscar S. Moreno, Roseller L. Barinaga, Leovigildo B. Banaag, Berthobal R. Ancheta, Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr., Emilio C. Macias, Ernie D. Clarete, Juan Miguel F. Zubiri,

Carlos M. Padilla, Felix R. Alfelor Jr., Arthur D. Defensor, Krisel Lagman Luistro, Consuelo A. Dy, Jose R. Gullas, Benigno C. Aquino III, Jose Apolinario L. Lozada Jr., Del R. De Guzman,

Rodolfo B. Albano Jr., Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra, Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, Solomon R. Chungalao, Mauricio G. Domogan, Luis P. Bersamin Jr., Edwin C. Uy, Amado T. Espino Jr., Harlin Cast. Abayon,

Eladio “Boy” Jala, Antonio P. Yapha Jr., Raul V. Del Mar, Frank Perez, Monico O. Puentevella, Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut, Antonio E.B. Nachura, Francis L. Nepomuceno, Rolex T. Suplico,

Antonio M. Abaya, Salacnib F. Baterina, Fred H. Castro, Aurelio M. Umali, Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon, Jose G. Solis, Felix W.B. Fuentebella, Rodriguez D. Dadivas, Oscar S. Rodriguez, Edgar M. Chatto

__________________________________________________________________________________

Explanatory Note

Fifteen years ago, on April 14, 1987, former President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No. 96 declaring May 7 of that year and every year thereafter as “Health Workers’ Day. However, its celebration has since faded into oblivion.

This bill seeks to officially reestablish “Health Workers’ Day” on May 7 of every year to give due recognition to those who serve as the main pillars of the health care system in the country – the health workers.

They are our doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, technicians, nutritionists, therapists, aides, and all other medical and allied professionals and support services personnel who, although overworked yet underpaid, provide vital health services for our people.

This bill especially seeks to draw much needed government attention to the plight of the lowly health care workers who toil anonymously yet devotedly in hospitals, clinics, barangay health centers and units in rural and urban areas across the country.

By declaring a special day reserved in their honor, this bill hopes to generate concern and action on issues which affect them most: meager salaries, nonpayment of benefits, increased workload without corresponding compensation, dismal and unsafe working conditions, insecurity of tenure, suppression of the right to organize and to participate in the formulation of policies, as well as the falling national budget priority for health which has translated into deteriorating government health services.

Passed on March 26, 1992, Republic Act 7305, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, was supposed to provide the much needed shot in the arm for our long-suffering government health servants. But until today, its declared objective “to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of the health workers, their living and working conditions and terms of employment” still has to be realized.

The annual public observance of “Health Workers’ Day” can bring the plight of health workers to national attention and underscore the State’s responsibility to provide the necessary salary increases and benefits for health workers and to spend for the health services much needed by the people.

Immediate passage of this bill is therefore earnestly sought.

SATUR C. OCAMPO LIZA L. MAZA CRISPIN B. BELTRAN Bayan Muna–Party-List Bayan Muna–Party-List Bayan Muna–Party-List

NERISSA SOON-RUIZ, M.D.Cebu, 6D

ROSELLER L. BARINAGAZamboanga del Norte, 2D

LEOVIGILDO B. BANAAGAgusan del Norte, 1D

BERTHOBAL R. ANCHETABukidnon, 2D

ARTHUR Y. PINGOY JR.South Cotabato, 2D

JOSE R. GULLASCebu 1D

ERNIE D. CLARETEMisamis Occidental, 1D

BENIGNO C. AQUINO IIITarlac, 2D

JOSE APOLINARIO L. LOZADA JR.Negros Occidental, 5D

EMMANUEL JOEL J. VILLANUEVACIBAC, PL

ARTHUR D. DEFENSORIloilo, 3D

TED FAILONLeyte, 1D

FILOMENA ”NENET” SAN JUAN M.D.Zamboanga del Sur, 2D

OSCAR S. MORENOMisamis Oriental, 1D

EMILIO C. MACIASNegros Oriental, 2D

KRISEL LAGMAN LUISTROAlbay, 1D

ROLEX T. SUPLICOIloilo, 5D

ANTONIO M. ABAYAIsabela, 4D

DEL R. DE GUZMANMarikina, LD

JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRIBukidnon, 3D

CARLOS M. PADILLANueva Vizcaya, LD

FELIX R. ALFELOR JR.Camarines Sur, 4D

MAURICIO G. DOMOGANBaguio, LD

LUIS P. BERSAMIN JR.Abra, LD

EDWIN C. UYIsabela, 2DAMADO T. ESPINO JR.Pangasinan, 2D

HARLIN CAST. ABAYONNorthern Samar, 1D

ELADIO “BOY” JALABohol, 3D

ANTONIO P. YAPHA JR.Cebu, 3D

RAUL V. DEL MARCebu City, 1D

FRANK PEREZBatangas, 2D

MONICO O. PUENTEBELLABacolod City, LD

ZENAIDA G. CRUZ-DUCUTPampanga, 2D

ANTONIO E.B. NACHURAWestern Samar, 2D

FRANCIS L. NEPOMUCENOPampanga, 1D

SOLOMON R. CHUNGALAOIfugao, LD

CONSUELO A. DYPasay City, LD

RODOLFO B. ALBANO JR.Isabela, 1DABRAHAM KAHLIL B. MITRAPalawan, 2D

SALACNIB F. BATERINAIlocos Sur, 1D

FRED H. CASTROCapiz, 2D

AURELIO M. UMALINueva Ecija, 3D

ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZONMuntinlupa City, LD

JOSE G. SOLISSorsogon, 2D

FELIX W.B. FUENTEBELLACamarines Sur, 3D

RODRIGUEZ D. DADIVASCapiz, 1D

OSCAR S. RODRIGUEZPampanga, 3D

EDGAR M. CHATTOBohol, 1D

Republic of the PhilippinesHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWELFTH CONGRESSFirst Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4806_________________________________________________________________________

Introduced by Reps. Satur C. Ocampo, Liza L. Maza, Crispin B. Beltran, Nerissa Soon-Ruiz M.D.,Ted Failon, Filomena ”Nenet” San Juan, Oscar S. Moreno, Roseller L. Barinaga, Leovigildo B. Banaag, Berthobal R. Ancheta, Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr., Emilio C. Macias, Ernie D. Clarete, Juan Miguel F. Zubiri,

Carlos M. Padilla, Felix R. Alfelor Jr., Arthur D. Defensor, Krisel Lagman Luistro, Consuelo A. Dy, Jose R. Gullas, Benigno C. Aquino III, Jose Apolinario L. Lozada Jr., Del R. De Guzman,

Rodolfo B. Albano Jr., Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra, Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, Solomon R. Chungalao, Mauricio G. Domogan, Luis P. Bersamin Jr., Edwin C. Uy, Amado T. Espino Jr., Harlin Cast. Abayon,

Eladio “Boy” Jala, Antonio P. Yapha Jr., Raul V. Del Mar, Frank Perez, Monico O. Puentevella, Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut, Antonio E.B. Nachura, Francis L. Nepomuceno, Rolex T. Suplico,

Antonio M. Abaya, Salacnib F. Baterina, Fred H. Castro, Aurelio M. Umali, Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon, Jose G. Solis, Felix W.B. Fuentebella, Rodriguez D. Dadivas, Oscar S. Rodriguez, Edgar M. Chatto

_________________________________________________________________________________

AN ACT DECLARING MAY 7 OF EVERY YEARAS “HEALTH WORKERS’ DAY”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: Section 1. This Act shall be known as the “Health Workers’ Day Act.”

Section 2. In order to give due recognition to the important role and contributions of the health workers who provide vital health services to our people and to promote their rights and welfare and enhance their sense of worth and dignity, May 7 of every year is hereby declared as a special working holiday to be known as “Health Workers’ Day.”

Section 3. The term “health workers” covers all persons engaged in health and health-related services, including medical and allied professionals and support services personnel, who work in hospitals, sanitaria, health centers, clinics and other health-related establishments in the public and private sectors.

Section 4. To ensure the meaningful observance of the holiday as herein declared, all heads of government health facilities, offices and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled hospitals as well as local government health units, and employers in the private sector, shall encourage and afford sufficient time and opportunities for their employees to engage and participate in any activity to mark Health Workers’ Day.

Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,