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A4 M0NDAY October 21, 2019

News
Congress can hike pay \'

for nurses - lawmaker

BY DIVINA NOVA JOY DEIA CRUZ (MPB$ in the budget.
This scheme was do ne in 2017 ,
A NAKATUSUGAN Rep. Michael Defensor on when a joint rcsolution was passed
authorizing the pay hike of mili-
Committee on Appropriations has
to ascertain the extra money re-
quired, and Malacaflang through

f,t Sunday said Congress gould pass a joint

I lresolution increasing
in public hospitals.
" Lhe Ilouse and the Senate have
the option to pass a toint resolution
purtiug into effect the higher starting
pa!'ofP30,531 for lurses employed
by rire national goyernment," De-
felsor, vice chairman ofthe House
the salaries of nurses
Committee on Heal*r, said.
He explained that a joint reso-
lution was one way that Congress
could authorize the release of
moneyfiom the lump sum Miscel-
laneous Personnel Benefits Fund
tary personnel, which was also
sourced ftom the MPBF.
"Our sense is Congress is ready
to implement the improved com-
pensation for nurses, as provided
for by law and upheld by the Su-
preme Court. It is just a question
of how best to do it," Defensor
said. "ln any case, forus to be able
to fund the pay increase, the House
the Department of Budget and
Management, may have to certift
the availability of funds."
The Supreme Court recently
upheld the validity ofthe Philip-
pine Nursing Acr of 2002, which
raised the minimum payofnurses
to Salary Grade 15 oi P30,531.
Cunentlt the basic pay of nurses
is pegged at Salary Grade 11 or
P20,7 54.

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