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Congress urged to prioritize bills that save lives, hike salaries
(Photo: Kiko Pangilinan/Facebook)” width=”871″ height=”580″ />
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said that only 10 percent of Filipinos in rural areas benefit from medical professionals. (Photo: Kiko Pangilinan/Facebook)MANILA—A Senator on Monday asked the Congress to prioritize bills that save lives or raise the minimum salary of government doctors.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan made this statement stressing that only 10 percent of Filipinos in rural areas benefit from medical professionals.
He also cited a World Health Organization (WHO) report that show 22,000 health professionals leave the Philippines every year to work overseas.
“There are better earning opportunities abroad. The same can be said of our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers). If Congress focuses on improving other sectors, particularly the labor sector, many of our people would be empowered,” Pangilinan said.
He further said this would benefit the poor and prevent them from resorting to crime to improve their lives.
“They will not resort to crimes to better their lives. Improving the labor sector can help eradicate the cycle of poverty. This is a better deterrent against criminality,” he added.
He said that increasing the salary of government doctors is just the first step to take in improving the country’s labor sector.
“We urge Congress to instead focus on bills that aim to save lives,” Pangilinan said, expressing hope that this measure will encourage our doctors to serve their communities.
Pangilinan is principal author of Senate Bill 1628 which seeks to raise the minimum salary of government doctors from Salary Grade 16 (PHP28,417) to Salary Grade 24 (PHP56,610).
Senate Bill 1268 or the Government Doctors’ Salary Upgrading Act of 2017 has so far been signed and approved in the committee level.
Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Risa Hontiveros, and Loren Legarda have filed similar bills heard by the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization, and Professional Regulation.
Pangilinan has also filed Senate Bill 59 seeking to grant civil service eligibility to casual and contractual government employees who have been in continuous and efficient service for five years.
