I.

Rationale
The Rural Health Team Placement Program (RHTPP) is a composite of several human resources
for health that utilizes learning cum deployment approach designed for unemployed registered
health professionals. In February 14, 201 I the Department of Health (DOH) spearheaded the
deployment of 10,000 nurses as counterpart to DSWDs Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
(4Ps). One thousand and twenty one (1021) CCT areas benefited with the provision of quality
health services mostly to disadvantaged individuals and families. Anent to this, there is also a
need to augment the nursing workforce in hospitals and other health facilities. As such, a 2nd
batch of nurses shall be deployed with the end in view of creating a pool of registered nurses
with enhanced clinical and public health competencies towards the improvement of health care
service delivery.
Similarly, midwives shall also be deployed to maintain focus on an integrated basic emergency
obstetric and neonatal care. This evolutionary step in health delivery expects to improve maternal
and neonatal care in far flung areas where labor-related maternal morbidity and mortality rates
are biggest. Henceforth, the following guidelines defines are issued and shall apply to all DOH
hospitals and other health facilities involved in the implementation of nurses and midwives
training and deployment.

II. Objectives
A. General Objective

The nurses and midwives learning and deployment aims to create a pool of registered health
professionals with enhanced clinical and public health competencies towards the improvement of
health care service delivery.
B. Specific Objectives
Improve access to quality healthcare services;
Increase nurses and midwives employability through the provision of learnin
g

Foster independence in the communitys health care delivery system

Address the inequitable distribution and augment the nursing and midwifery
workforce in DOH hospitals and health facilities especially rural, underserved, hardship communities;

Improve the current nurse to patient ratio in accordance to DOH standard

staffing patterns;

Improve local health systems that will support the countrys attainment of
universal health care or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan

III. Scope Of Application

This Department Order shall apply to DOH hospitals and other health facilities involved in the
implementation of nurses and midwives learning and deployment, and the nurses and midwives
under the project.

IV. Definition of Terms

V. Implementing Mechanisms
1. Strengthen the nursing and midwifery workforces in DOH hospitals and their catchment
areas, Rural Health Units and other health facilities as a form of technical assistance
towards the delivery of the DOH thrust in a well-coordinated manner.
2. Create a network of nurse trainers in DOH hospitals and other health facilities to maintain
quality and standards of learning and development.
3. Design comprehensive learning and development competency courses that encompass the
priority needs of the country.
4. Structured recruitment and matching strategies to decrease attrition rate of nurses and
midwives.
5. Develop a monitoring and evaluation system for the project and the competency
gained by the nurses and midwives.
6. Provide both competency and deployment recognition to increase employability of the
nurses and midwives.
7. Conduct operational research.

VI. Implementing Guidelines

A. General Guidelines
1. The nurses and midwives shall undergo learning and development in clinical
and public health competencies during their one (1) year of deployment.
2. Nurses assigned in hospitals shall be provided with competencies through
rotations in the different specialty departments of the hospitals as much as
possible. Nurses and midwives assigned in the Rural Health Units shall be
abreast with public health programs and services.
3. DOH hospitals and other health facilities shall be supplemented with 11,500
nurses and 1,000 midwives to augment their workforce.
4. The Centers for Health Development (CHD) through their respective cluster
heads in close collaboration with the Health Human Resource Development
Bureau (HHRDB) shall identify recipient DOH hospitals and other health
facilities.
5. A distribution list shall be provided by the HHRDB to all CHDs through their
cluster heads. The CHD shall validate the list with the recipient hospitals and

other health facilities based on the standard staffing requirements. The revalidated list shall be the basis for the allocation of nurses and midwives
within their catchment areas and in the respective regions.
6. Nurses will receive an allowance of Php8, 000 per month while midwives will
receive Php6, 000 per month. Both will be provided with Philhealth Insurance
of Php1, 200 per year, Group Accident Insurance enrolment of Php500 per
year and a Certificate of Completion after satisfactory completion of the
project.
7. The DOH hospitals shall provide meals for the nurses during their tour of duty.
This shall be equivalent to at least Php2, 000 per month. Nurses and
midwives assigned in the Rural Health Units shaft follow the provisions
of Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2011-0044 dated 4 August,, 2011
specifically the additional allowance of at least Php2, 000 per month.
8. Nurses and midwives with Certificates of Completion shall be considered
for priority employment in government health facilities where vacant posts
exist.
9. Nurses and midwives shall be evaluated on a regular basis during the one (1)
year period.
10.Absences, tardiness or under time shall be deducted from the nurses and
midwives monthly allowances.
11.The accomplished daily time records (DTR), duly approved by the Chief Nurse
shall be the basis for the allowances.
B. Procedures in the Recruitment, Selection and Deployment of Applicants
1. Recruitment and Selection
Applicants shall apply directly to the recipient DOH hospitals or through the
CHDs. The registry of nurse applicants from the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) shall also be a source of candidates to the project.
Only nurses and midwives with official and validated Professional Regulations
Commissions (PRC) license are eligible to apply. Verification shall be done via
the internet at www.prc.gov.ph

Preference shall be given to nurses and midwives residing in the localities

where the recipient DOH hospitals or health facilities are sited.

Nurse and midwife volunteers, trainees, or those exposed in the recipient

hospitals and other health facilities shall be given priority.

Nurses and midwives must be physically and mentally fit. A medical

certificate from a government hospital is required.

2. Deployment
An orientation will be conducted by the recipient DOH hospitals or CHDs and
health facilities prior to assumption to duty.

Schedule of rotations shall be for the various specialty departments of the

DOH hospitals as available. Schedules for those assigned at the RHUs shall be
done with the respective heads of units.

To enhance and provide focus for the clinical and public health rotations,
competencies shall be anchored on courses geared towards specialty
modules with continuing professional units as required by the PRC.

Replacements shall be allowed in case of drop-outs but will only complete

remaining period of the project.

VII. Roles and Responsibilities

The following are the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the implementation the project:
1. The DOH Central Office through the HHRDB shall:
Lead in the implementation of the teaming, development and deployment of
nurses and midwives through its CHDs and DOH hospitals and other health
facilities;
Sub-allot the funding requirements of the project to the CHDs or DOH
hospitals;

Collaborate with the Professional Regulation Commission - Board of

Nursing, (PRC-BON) and Board of Midwifery for their Continuing Professional
Education (CPE) requirements;

Together with the CHDs, identify the recipient DOH hospitals and other
health facilities using the staffing requirement gaps as primary consideration;

e. Prepare the nurses and midwives distribution list for approval

Secretary of Health through the Cluster Head;

Lead in the conduct of operational research.

by the

2. The Operational Clusters through the Centers for Health Development shall:
Coordinate with DOH hospitals and other health facilities in their respective
regions and identify nurses and midwives requirements;
Ensure fair and objective competency based recruitment, selection and
placement process of the nurses and midwives assigned in the Rural
Health Units; further ensure that the process of recruitment and selection by
the recipient DOH hospitals are likewise fair and objective;

Validate the PRC license of accepted nurses and midwives;

Collaborate with DOH hospitals and health facilities in the orientation

and exit conference of nurses and midwives;

Manage the funds intended for the project;

Lead in the monitoring and evaluation of the project;

In coordination with the hospitals and health facilities, provide the

nurses and midwives the Certificate of Completion after the satisfactory
completion of the project.

Coordinate with the DOH hospitals and other health facilities and to the
process for Philhealth enrollment

Prepare the payroll and remit the corresponding allowances to the bank;

Brief the Local Chief Executives (i.e., Congressmen, Governors, Mayors)

of the project and explore areas of partnerships;

Submit reports as requested by the CHDs and/or the Central Office.

3. DOH Hospitals and other health facilities shall:

Ensure a fair and objective competency based recruitment, selection and
placement process of nurses and/or midwives;
Together with the CHDS, provide the necessary information needed for the
prompt and efficient implementation of the project;

Manage the funds intended for the project as need be;

Implement learning and deployment of nurses and midwives;

Provide meals for the nurses during their tour of duty or its equivalent of at
least Php2,000;

Ensure the safety and security of the nurses and/or midwives;

Exercise administrative and technical supervision over the nurse and/or

midwives;

Provide regular feedback to the CHDs on issues and concerns encountered

during project implementation;

Conduct periodic competency assessment of the nurses and/or midwives;

Prepare the payroll and remit the corresponding allowances to the bank;

Submit reports as requested by the CHDs and/or file Central Office

Delegate the following functions to their respective Chief Nurses/Public

Health Nurses:
o

Lead in the orientation and exit conferences in the various clinical

rotations of the nurses;

Lead in the training and development of nurses and/or midwives in

accordance to the project Training Design

Exercise administrative and technical supervision over the nurses

and/or midwives and,

Conduct periodic competency assessment of the nurses.

4. The Local Government Units (LGU) shall follow the provisions of the Joint
Memorandum
Circular
2011
0044
dated
4
August
2011.
For emphasis the LGUs shall:
Participate in the learning and deployment of nurses and midwives;
Provide an additional monthly allowance of at least Php2,000 per month;

Secure the safety and security of the nurses and midwives;

Support the nurses and midwives learning and development activities;

Provide regular feedback to the CHDs on issues and concerns encountered

during project implementation.

VIII. Effectivity
These guidelines shall take effect immediately.
Originally Signed by Enrique T. Ona, MD