EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
INCREASING THE MINIMUM SALARY GRADE LEVEL OF SOCIAL WORKER 
POSITION FROM SALARY GRADE 11 TO SALARY GRADE 15 AND PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
There is a group of forgotten and neglected health frontliners to whom the 
nation owes so much--the social workers in public institutions. Perhaps, the social 
workers have the biggest number of clients in a hospital. Anyone who lacks the money, 
which means most of those who seek treatment nowadays, automatically becomes 
their "patient".
This is because most of those who are hospitalized share one comorbidity: 
poverty. It is fatal. This is a iand where every family is one major iilness away from 
bankruptcy. Our social workers help them and their famiiies find relief, by becoming 
their advocates for discounts and free treatments. They refer them to agencies which 
can extend finandai help and alleviate their plight.
Like medical professionals, social workers prepare a patient chart but of a 
different kind, one which often shows the hard life of the sick and their families. But 
their job goes beyond profiiing. They recommend psychosodai care, lodging for the 
caregivers, fare money for the stranded. They have been doing these ages before the 
COVID-19 pandemic struck.
Despite the sodai workers' invaluable contributions, their salaries lag behind 
those of other helping professions such as nurses and police officers. Currently, under
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Republic Act No. 11466, a Social Welfare Officer I receives a basic pay of PhP 22,316. 
The best belated thank you card that we can give our social workers is to make their 
minimum pay equal to nurses, PhP 32,035 a month, which is that of Salary Grade 15 
in the government pay scale.
Although no amount of money is enough to show our appreciation for the 
sacrifices and hard work of our social workers, especially those in the front lines, 
we must, at the very least, recognize and ensure that they get the pay that they 
deserve so that they too may lead a decent and humane life.
In light of the foregoing, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought.
rMom


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
date:
SENATE
SltL&wiNDEX
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
INCREASING THE MINIMUM SALARY GRADE LEVEL OF SOCIAL WORKER 
POSITION FROM SALARY GRADE 11 TO SALARY GRADE 15 AND PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Social Workers' Pay
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Hike Act of 2020".
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby a declared policy of the state to pay
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just and equitable compensation to all government personnel, including the social
5 
workers, in accordance with the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, in order
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to attract, retain and motivate a corps of competent civil servants.
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SEC. 3. Increase in the Minimum Salary Grade Level. -The minimum base pay
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of social workers working in government institutions shall not be lower than Salary
9 
Grade 15 with equivalent monthly salary as prescribed in the Modified Salary Schedule
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for Civilian Employees under Republic Act No. 11466, otherwise known as the "Salary
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Standardization Law of 2019": Provided, That for social workers working in local
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government units (LGUs), adjustments of their salaries shall be in accordance with
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Section 10 of the said law.
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SEC. 4. Authority of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). - The
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DBM is authorized to adjust the salary grades of social worker positions in government
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as reflected in the occupational group. Social Welfare Development under the Index
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of Occupational Services, Occupational Groups, Classes and Salary Grades pursuant
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to DBM Budget Circular 2018-4.
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1 
SEC. 5. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all social workers in all national
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government institutions and local government units. This Act shall cover all social
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workers whether regular, contractual or casual, now existing or hereafter created.
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SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The funding sources for the amounts necessary to
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implement this Act shall be as follows:
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a. For national government entities, the amount necessary for the immediate
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implementation of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations
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Act;
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b. For LGUs, the amounts shall be charged against their respective local
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government funds in accordance with the pertinent provisions of this Act
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and Republic Act No. 7160.
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SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DBM shall, within sixty (60)
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days after the approval of this Act, prepare and issue the necessary guidelines to
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Implement the provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, decrees, executive orders,
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issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to or
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inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the Official
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Gazette or in one newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,