MANILA, Philippines – After 18 years of waiting, government nurses - many of whom are now in the front lines against COVID-19 - are finally in line for a much-needed salary increase, after the Department of Budget and Management appropriated the funds for it.
Several senators welcomed government's decision to implement Section 32 of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 which will raise the minimum monthly base pay of government nurses to Salary Grade 15 (SG-15), or P32,053 to P34,801.
"This is a welcome development. Matagal nang batas ang Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, ngunit inabot ng 18 taon para maimplement ang pagtaas ng kanilang sahod. Isa sa mga pinakamahalagang frontliners natin ang ating mga nurses, at isa lamang ito sa maraming paraan na pinapakita natin ang suporta sa kanila ngayong pandemya," Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said on Sunday.
Government nurses will jump four salary grades from SG-11(P22,316 to P24,391 per month) to SG-15, increasing their income by as much as P10,000 per month under the Salary Standardization Law.
The said circular is effective no later than January 1, 2020.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, who pushed for funding for the pay hike via an amendment to the P4.1-trillion 2020 budget, said this should provide much-needed support especially for the frontliners fighting the COVID threat.
"Definitely, no amount is enough to show our appreciation for the sacrifices and hard work of our nurses, especially those in the front lines. Still, this pay increase - which was sought even before the COVID pandemic hit - will be of help to them in one way or another," Lacson said.
Last year, Lacson helped to contain a new special provision in the 2020 budget - "Increasing the Salary Grade of Government Nurses" - where the base pay of government nurses shall be Salary Grade 15, in compliance with the Supreme Court's decision (G.R. 215746).
— The Summit Express
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| Photo Credit: Facebook/Department of Health |
Several senators welcomed government's decision to implement Section 32 of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 which will raise the minimum monthly base pay of government nurses to Salary Grade 15 (SG-15), or P32,053 to P34,801.
"This is a welcome development. Matagal nang batas ang Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, ngunit inabot ng 18 taon para maimplement ang pagtaas ng kanilang sahod. Isa sa mga pinakamahalagang frontliners natin ang ating mga nurses, at isa lamang ito sa maraming paraan na pinapakita natin ang suporta sa kanila ngayong pandemya," Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said on Sunday.
Government nurses will jump four salary grades from SG-11(P22,316 to P24,391 per month) to SG-15, increasing their income by as much as P10,000 per month under the Salary Standardization Law.
The said circular is effective no later than January 1, 2020.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, who pushed for funding for the pay hike via an amendment to the P4.1-trillion 2020 budget, said this should provide much-needed support especially for the frontliners fighting the COVID threat.
"Definitely, no amount is enough to show our appreciation for the sacrifices and hard work of our nurses, especially those in the front lines. Still, this pay increase - which was sought even before the COVID pandemic hit - will be of help to them in one way or another," Lacson said.
Last year, Lacson helped to contain a new special provision in the 2020 budget - "Increasing the Salary Grade of Government Nurses" - where the base pay of government nurses shall be Salary Grade 15, in compliance with the Supreme Court's decision (G.R. 215746).
— The Summit Express
