The Anakalusugan Party-list has vowed to push for a bill that would increase the minimum base pay state nurses to Salary Grade 15 amid a legal debate on whether a joint resolution of Congress can repeal the section on compensation of the Philippine Nursing Act.
“It will be a disservice to our dedicated, if not overworked, public nurses if we do not give the compensation due them,” Anakalusugan Party-list nominee Mike Defensor said.
“To avoid legal confusion, we will remedy this by pushing for a new measure that will give just compensation to our state nurses and increase their minimum base pay to Salary Grade 15,” he added.
Earlier, Solicitor General Jose Calida said the government cannot be compelled to increase the salary of public nurses “without any legal basis.”
Calida said Section 32 of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 which increases the entry-level pay of nurses in public health institutions to Salary Grade 15 has effectively been repealed by a 2009 Joint Resolution by Congress.