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Republic of the PhiliPPines
Department of the Interior and Local Govetnment
Deparhnent of Health
Department of Social Wel{are and Development
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JOINT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR
No. 20lt- 0044

TO : PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS, CITY MAYORS, MUNICIPAL

MAYORS, REGIONAL GOVSRNOR OF TIIE ARMM, CENTaR
FOR ITEALTH DEVtrLOPMANT DIRECTORS, DSWD REGIONAL
DIRECTORS AIID DILG REGIONAL DIRECTORS

SUBJECT : REGISTERED I{URSES FOR I{EALTH ENIIANCEMENT AI{D

LOCAL SERVICE PROJECT

Objectives of the RN&eart Project

The Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service, or RNftea/s
Project, is in keeping with the constitutional mandate of ensuring trccess to essential health
serviceso especiaily by the poor, and with the Philippine commitment to the Millennium
Development Goals.

The project aims to:

1. Improve access of poor communities to quality healthcare;

2. Increase the employability of nurses with enhanced clinical and preventive
health management comPetencies;
3. Address the shortage of skilled and experienced nurses tbrough competency-
based leaming and development work;
4. Address the inadequacy of the nursing workforce in rural areas and in un-
served or undersenred communities; and
5. Address the proliferation of the so-called 'qvolunteet nurses", i.e., nurses
working in hospitals without being paid, albeit, they themselves pay such
hospitals to obtain individual certificates of work experience.

Coverage of the Project

A11cities and municipalities covered under the Conditional Cash Transfer Program of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development

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Responsibilities of the Local Chief Executive

The concerned Provincial Governor, City Mayor and Municipal Mayor is hereby
strongly encouraged to:
l. Participate in the RNheals Project;
2. Provide an additional monthly allowance of at least Two Thousand Pesos
(php 2,000) per month for every nurse assigned in the province, city or
municipality, as the case may be;
3. Cause the provision of modest board and lodging, as may be necessary;
4. See to the safety and security of nurses deployed at the local government
owned-hospital or health clinic;
5. Support their learning and development activities, upon request; and
6. Provide regular feedback to the DOH-organized Provincial Management
Team, in the case of a municipality and a component city, and to the Regional
Management Team, in the case of a province, highly urbanized city and
independent component city relative to issues or concerns encountered in
proj ect implementation.

Responsibilities of the Center for l{ealth Development Director

The Center for Health Development Director is hereby enjoined to:

1. Assess the quality of Basic Emergency on Obstetrics and Newborn Care in

participating cities and municipalities;
2. Lead in the deployment of, and exercise technical supervision over, the nurses,
in coordination with the DSWD Regional Director;
3. Undertake efforts geared towards the competency development of nurses;
4. In partnership with the DSWD Regional Office, oversee, monitor and evaluate
the project; and
5. Provide periodic reports on project implementation.

Responsibilities of the DSWD Regional Director

The DSWD Regional Director is hereby enjoined to:

l. Identiff participating cities and municipalities; and

2. In partnership with the DOH Center for Health Development, oversee, monitor
and evaluate project implementation.

Responsibilities of the DILG Regional Director and Regional Governor of the ARMM

The DILG Regional Director and the Regional Governor of ARMM are hereby
directed to:
l. Cause the immediate and widest dissemination of this Circular;
2. Ensure that this Circular is effectively communicated to concemed local
authorities: and
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 3. Provide reports on local govemment engagement to the Office of the
Secretary, through the Bureau of Local Government Supervision, as may be
directed from time to time.

Effectivity

This Joint Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

ENRIQUE T. ONA ZON ffJLIANO.SOLIMAN

Secretarv of Health Secretary of Social Welfare
and Development

Secretary of I Local Govemment

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