Cebu nurses ask for appropriate salary

CEBU, Philippines – Nurses in public hospitals in Cebu are protesting the governments’ failure to implement the appropriate salary that they should receive as mandated by law.

Wearing green ribbons, the nurses complained of the non-implementation of Republic Act 9173 - known as the Nursing Law of 2002 - that increases their salaries.

Section 32 of the Nursing Law raises the minimum base pay of nurses in public health institutions to Salary Grade 15 from Salary Grade 10.

Dr. Jucel Ann Jumao-as, supervisor of the Commission on Higher Education, explained that nurses should be receiving a starting salary of P15,000. Presently, a government nurse receives a monthly salary of P6,000 to P7,000.

Last June 1, Congress approved the move raising the salary of government nurses to Salary Grade 11, which means an additional P6,000 spread in four years.

But the Philippine Nurses Association said the move was an “act of injustice” and an “inhumane treatment to Filipino nurses.”

PNA national president Teresita Irigo-Barcelo said in the last seven years, the government deprived the Filipino Nurses of their right to attain Salary Grade 15, which is mandated by law.

 PNA stated that amid the global crisis and emerging health problems such as the Influenza A H1N1, Filipino nurses are giving services to save thousands of lives.

 It said this is the reason why nurses should be well-compensated because “they are also human beings with basic needs for survival.” — AJ A. de la Torre/LPM (THE FREEMAN)