Faces of the News: Government nurses

ILLUSTRATION BY RENE ELEVERA

Government nurses may have something to look forward to in 2020 if the Senate’s amendment to the proposed P4.1-trillion 2020 budget pushes through.

The Senate has set aside P3.173 billion from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund of the Department of Health to increase the base pay of nurses.

Under the special provision, their basic salary would be at grade 15, or P30,531 a month.

The government nurses’ base pay was set at salary grade 11 in 2009 though an executive order from then President Gloria Macapagal-Arrroyo.

But the Supreme Court, in a recent ruling, upheld the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 and said their base pay must be at salary grade 15.

Both houses of Congress are now reconciling their versions of the budget bill.

If the amendment for the nurses stays, the salary increase would take effect once the budget is signed into law. What a happy new year it could turn out to be!