Marilyn Cahatol

Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. Makr Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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Health Workers Serving Through the Holidays

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178531365534620231031-jose-fabella-workers-long-weekend-86.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Lawmakers grilled agencies, including the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), over unequal pay among public health workers in local government units in comparison to those working in national government agencies.</p><p>During the House Committee on Health’s meeting on Wednesday on amending the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, Asenso Pinoy party-list Representative Henry Oaminal Jr. questioned the DBM and DILG on the matter.</p><p>“One of the problems of our public health system is the varying salaries that are given to health workers that are employed by the local government units and those that are employed by the national government. Na-explain naman po, Mr. chair, that one of the challenges to that is really the PS limitations to the LGUs,” Oaminal said.</p><p>If this continues, local governments may struggle to attract competent health workers, according to Oaminal.</p><p>“It therefore makes it difficult for their respective constituencies kasi kulang ‘yung mga health care workers na nakukuha ng LGUs, and it’s also very unfair for our health workers employed with our LGUs,” Oaminal said.</p><p>“To the DBM and the DILG, Mr. Chair, what can be done, or maybe more specifically, what provisions of law do we have to amend to address these growing concerns?” Oaminal asked, only for the representative of the DBM to say they need further study.</p><p>This kind of answer was heard multiple times with the DBM vowing to submit a position paper, much to Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez’s dismay.</p><p>“Huwag ho kayong pumunta dito na mayroon tayong malaking committee meeting tas sasabihin niyo wala kayo. Gagawa pa kayo ng position paper. This has been being tackled for how many Congresses already, and then up to now, wala pa rin kayong position paper,” Gomez told DBM.</p><p>RA 6758 on the compensation and position classification system in the government should be amended to respond to the issue, according to Attorney Noel Sala of the DOH.</p><p>“We have Republic Act No. 6758, an act prescribing a revised compensation and position classification system in the government and other purposes. ‘Yung Section 10 po specifically provides for the salary schedule for local government units… Kung gusto po natin siyang baguhin, ‘yung salary sa LGUs, ito po ‘yung i-a-amend natin na law,” Sala said.</p><p>ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio later pointed out RA 7305 or the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers already dictates that the national government should subsidize the amount necessary to pay any difference in the salaries of those working in the national and local governments.</p><p>“The current Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, Republic Act No. 7305, mayroon po dito Section 19 on salaries, particularly letter B– equality in salary scale. Sabi rito, the salary scales of public health workers whose salaries are appropriated by a city, municipality, district, or provincial government shall not be less than those provided for public health workers of the national government provided that the national government shall subsidize the amount necessary to pay the difference between that received by nationally paid and locally paid health workers of equivalent positions,” Tinio said.</p><p>The lawmaker then said it seems the DOH and DBM are somehow ignoring this provision.</p><p>“Ang tanong ko po ngayon sa DOH tsaka sa DBM, ano po ang ginagawa niyo sa probisyon na ‘to? Mukhang dinededma niyo lang. Dahil the DOH, we expect na dapat siguro sa inyo manggaling ‘yung proposal for a subsidy– salary subsidy at equalization subsidy,” Tinio said.</p><p>DOH’s Dr. Mary Ruth Politico said guidelines may need to be developed with the DBM.</p><p>“From national government to subsidize local government in terms of like paying kasi parang mayroon tayong separation of pockets kasi PS. I think guidelines need to be co-developed with DBM. But in the previous years, I think cinonsider siya sa UHC Act kaya nagawa ‘yung Special Health Fund,” Politico said.</p><p>Kamanggagawa party-list Representative Elijah San Fernando also called out the DBM and DILG for allegedly pointing fingers during the committee meeting.</p><p>“Nagtuturuan lang po ang DBM at ang DILG. Ngayon, naiintindihan natin mayroong certain limitations sa budget pagdating po sa mga local government unit. Pero ang tinatanong po natin dito napakapartikular. Ano po ang mga pupuwedeng paraan na gawin ng DBM at ng DILG para itulak na ‘yung mga health care workers natin sa pampublikong sektor ay matanggap nila ‘yung kaparehas ng mga benepisyo?” San Fernando asked.</p><p>But Sala also said LGUs’ budgets may be easily used up if the Personnel Services (PS) limitation is removed.</p><p>“Income classes in LGUs is there because hindi naman lahat ng LGUs pantay-pantay. And nagva-vary kasi ‘yung income ng LGUs depende sa population, land area… Hindi naman nating alisin ‘yung Section 325 na naglalagay ng PS limitations because if alisin natin ‘yun, mauubos ‘yung budget ng local government units on the personnel– the plantilla positions,” Sala said.</p><p>Earlier during the hearing, Politico flagged the issue of unequal pay among those working in LGUs.</p><p>“Isa po sa mga dinadama na problema sa ating mga pampublikong pasilidad lalo na po sa mga local government units na ang kanilang income class ay nabibilang sa 5th o 6th class municipalities na hindi po nila nabibigay nang kabuuan ‘yung mga hazard pay benefits po ng mga health workers. At ‘yung kanila pong tinatamasang mga sahod ay hindi rin pantay sa kung anuman po ‘yung naibibigay sa mga kasalukuyang empleyado ng mga national agencies,” Politico said.</p><p>“Sana po ang mga sinusulong po nating amendments ay masolusyonan po ito… Dahil po sa current magna carta for public health workers, nakalagay po kasi na dapat within the available funds. At ‘pag sinagot ka na po na, ‘Sorry, wala po kaming pera,’ wala na pong magawa,” Politico added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/03/08/23/family-or-country-the-hard-choice-filipino-nurses-make">Family or country? The hard choice Filipino nurses must make</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>SALARY EQUALIZATION FUND</strong></div><p>Tinio recommended the creation of a salary equalization fund to specifically address the supposed pay gap.</p><p>“Ako, actually, dahil may specific mandate ang magna carta, tama ‘yung sinabi nung taga-DILG– Special Health Fund ibig sabihin parang it’s for all health-related expenses, ‘di ba? Tingin natin kailangan may malinaw na hiwalay na pondo na para sa parang salary equalization fund ganoon para malinaw na ito ay para lang sa sweldo ng mga health workers para maipantay,” Tinio said.</p><p>“So mungkahi ko, Chair, na tayo talagang tiyakin natin lalo na sa darating na budget deliberation na ihiwalay na itatag ang ganitong pondo alinsunod sa mandato ng batas,” Tinio added.</p><p>Dr. Gian Carlo Torres of Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) said there is a need to strictly implement the health worker-to-patient ratio.</p><p>“I do agree with Congressman Tinio earlier mentioning na i-improve po ‘yung 1 is to 8 kasi currently po ‘yung 1 is to 12, minsan po 1 is to ward ‘yan especially into some specific areas,” Torres said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines, Inc.&#x27;s (IMAP) Patricia Gomez said there is a ratio of around 1 midwife to around 20,000 patients.</p><p>“Sa ating 7305, dapat ang ratio ng midwife ay 1 is to 4,000 pagka sa urban. Pagka sa pinakatuktok ng bundok, 1 is to 3,000. But what’s happening right now is 1 is to 20,000. ‘Yung ang problema natin kasi we are producing nurses 16,000 per year, but nasaan po ba sila? We are producing two to 3,000 midwives per year din po, pero nasaan po sila?” Gomez asked.</p><p>“Ako’y naiiyak kasi nga ‘yung aming mga midwives, magre-retire na lang ay job order pa rin. Mas mataas pa ang sahod ng ating mga kasambahay kaysa sa ating midwives sa field,” Gomez said.</p><p>A motion to consolidate and approve the bills on amending the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers was approved by the committee on Wednesday. </p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/1/29/inside-the-philippines-struggle-for-rural-health-care-1032">Inside the Philippines&#x27; struggle for rural health care</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/58MHLF16_jk?si=TioEl9w-utVBiHBd" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Lawmakers grilled agencies, including the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), over unequal pay among public health workers in local government units.</p>

Lawmakers grilled agencies, including the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), over unequal pay among public health workers in local government units.

Lawmakers lament alleged unequal pay among public health workers, salary equalization fund proposed

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Lawmakers lament alleged unequal pay among public health workers, salary equalization fund proposed

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 29, 2026 04:39 PM PHT

Read More:

health worker

House of Representatives

Committee on Health

Magna Carta of Public Health Workers

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