Former Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
FORMER Sen. Richard Gordon vowed to ensure that government nurses received the higher compensation due them under a law passed 13 years ago, if he were sent back to the Senate.
Gordon, who is Philippine Red Cross chair, said he would examine and amend the budget for 2017 of the Department of Health in the Senate to ensure the law’s implementation.
He made the assurance in a keynote speech at the recent Philippine Nurses Association national convention in Davao with some 1,000 PNA officials and nurses in attendance.
Gordon said the entry level wage for nurses in government remained at salary grade 11, which is a monthly pay of P18,549. In contrast, Republic Act No. 9173, or the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, mandates that “the minimum base pay of nurses working in public health institutions should not be lower than salary grade 15.”
Clearly, he said, the law calls for the government to pay nurses an entry level salary of P24,887.
“I find it sad the government has not given the plight of our nurses priority, given their sacrifices and importance to society. The families of our nurses, some of whom sold their carabaos to send their children to nursing school, should have been enjoying the benefits of the law these past 13 years.
“Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to public service under the most hazardous conditions. We should give them their due under the law, and we will see to this when the DOH budget for 2017 passes through the Senate,” he said.