Wage hike for doctors gains council support

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council is supporting a House bill that seeks to increase the salaries of and to grant monetary allowances to government doctors.

Councilor Sisinio Andales authored a resolution expressing support to House Bill 5263 known as “An Act Providing for an Increase in the Salary Grade of Government Physicians, A Grant of Monetary Allowance, and Appropriating Funds Therefor.”

Andales said the bill will develop their (public doctors’) well-being as they serve the public.

“The said bill seeks to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of government physicians and their living and working conditions to help ensure, promote and maintain the delivery of basic health services for all Filipinos,” he said in his resolution.

Andales added that as the people providing basic health services, government doctors should be gi-ven enough assistance and incentives.

“Our government doctors are at the forefront in providing basic health services to every community, and providing their fair pay, incentives and benefits to them is called for,” the resolution read.

HB 5263 is authored by Masbate Representative Scott Davies Lanete and is now pending before House of Representatives.

If this bill will be approved into law, the pay of the government doctors will increase to Grade 27 or P62,670  every month from Grade 16 or P26,878  per month.

In addition to the salary increase, Lanete is also proposing that public physicians be also given a monthly allowance amounting to P2,500.

Lanete said based on reports, physicians in their present salary, are not encouraged to serve the public hospitals.

“The reality cannot be denied that physicians are not encouraged to serve in public hospitals and institutions because, at present, the basic wage of doctors in provincial and municipal hospitals is only P26,878 a month, or Salary Grade Level 16,” said La-nete, who is the vice chair of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation.

With this bill, the medical professionals will be enticed to work in government hospitals, the solon said. 

Furthermore, the proposal aims to afford government doctors the right to decent pay and benefits and provide an incentive to them for their service to the community, he added. — (FREEMAN)