OZAMIZ CITY — A Mindanao Congressman wants the government to protect its nurses and ensure their benefits in the midst of the pandemic and even during normal times.
In light of the pandemic, Misamis Occidental Congressman Henry S. Oaminal sought for the protection of the welfare of nurses.
Citing a Supreme Court decision which affirmed a provision of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, providing a minimum base pay of not lower than Salary Grade 15 for nurses working in the public health institutions, Oaminal said nurses must be aptly protected and benefits provided.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III acknowledged the substantial contribution of nurses and healthcare workers in the government’s response to the pandemic and called them ‘heroes of the day’.
Oaminal the House Deputy Speaker, questioned a Department of Budget and Management (DBM) circular modifying positions of public nurses during the budget deliberations for the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday.
The Supreme Court, in its November 13, 2019 decision in “Ang Nars Party List”, represented by Cong. Leah Primitiva G. Samaco-Paquiz, et al., Petitioners, vs. The Executive Secretary et al., Respondents, G.R. No. 215746”, affirmed Sec. 32 of Republic Act No. 9173 or the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.
The deputy speaker of the 18th Congress added that in the General Appropriations Act for 2020, three billion pesos was provided for the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund which was earmarked for this particular decision.
President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned the implementation of the salary adjustment subject to the issuance coming from the DBM. DBM, as a response to this development, then issued on July 17, 2020, Circular 2020-4.
However, the congressman pointed out some issues on the DBM Circular noting that while it upgraded the salary grade of nurses in the public sector, it had some modifications in the position attributes of the nurses, and, that the modifications downgraded the positions of the said healthcare workers.
Health Undersecretary Roger P. Tong-an, on the other hand, explained that when DBM handed them a copy of the circular, they saw that there was an issue as to the position of Nurse II which is SG 15 as Nurse I is also SG 15. Thus, in a meeting with DBM, DOH suggested for Nurse II to be provided with SG 16. However, DBM explained to DOH that they cannot do such as there are still government doctors and lawyers with Salary Grade 16.
Another suggestion that DOH made to DBM is for Nurse II to be automatically promoted to Step 8 in their salary so that there will be a salary difference between Nurse I and Nurse II. Thus, Nurse I will receive a basic monthly salary of Php32,053.00 while Nurse II will have a basic monthly salary of at least Php34,000.00.
As the promotion of the salary grade of government nurses is retroactive, Nurse II will be promoted to Nurse III. However, the DBM has yet to respond to this proposal from DOH.
Tong-an added that they are currently amending the roles of the nurses in the public sector to avoid overlapping of functions.
Further, the DOH official added that according to DBM, they have no legal basis to amend the Salary Grade of Nurse III to Nurse VI and that if the salary grades of other nursing positions will be increased, such as the Salary Grade of Nurse VI, it will already be equivalent to the salary grade of the medical director of a hospital which requires for a Career Executive Service Examination (CESO) certification.
Tong-an assured the Appropriations Committee that they will do their best to continue negotiating with DBM to ensure the protection of nurses’ welfare.
Oaminal suggested to DOH and the committee that Congress may provide the legal basis in the 2021 fiscal budget to ensure full implementation of the law as to the salary of government nurses, provided, a recommendation from DOH can be obtained by the House so that proper recommendations can be submitted to the plenary.
Margarette, a public nurse said she was expecting that the government will provide what is specified under the law “But I feel shortchanged, and I don’t know what happened to our budget”.
She said working in a government hospital during the pandemic is very risky and their only hope is to receive the right compensation they deserve. Newsline.ph
