Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No._ 11064

Introduced by REP. EDUARDO R. RAMA JR.
2nd District, Cebu City

EXPLANATORY NOTE
“The object of government is the welfare of the people.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

The creation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (“DSWD”) finds
its origins in the hopes of providing an agency responsible for developing and administering a
comprehensive social welfare program dedicated to ameliorating the living conditions of
inos, especially those who are vulnerable and at-risk because of poverty, disability, age,
and those who are victims of calamities.! Currently, DSWD is the primary agency for
implementing key programs in the government: Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (“4Ps”),
Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (“AICS”), and Comprehensive Intervention
Against Gender-Based Violence.

Nevertheless, the implementation of these programs was met with difficulties.
Legislators and other government agencies have pointed out irregularities in their effectiveness
and efficiency in terms of addressing the needs of the intended beneficiaries. To put into
context, the Commission on Audit (“COA”) has flagged the DSWD for its process in selecting
beneficiaries of 4Ps wherein a number of them were not part of the Listahanan, or the National
Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (“NHTS-PR”)2 Senate also was called to
investigate the lapses in the program such as delayed payouts, and the inclusion of unqualified
families?

: Republic Act No. 5416. Social Welfare Act.15 June 1968.

2 ‘Commission on Audit (2022). Follow-Up on the Performance Audit on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program. hitps://www.coa.zov.ph reports performance-audit-reports/2022-2/follow-up-on-the-
perfor audit-on-the-pantawid-pamilyang-pilipino-program/,

3 Lalu, Gabriel (26 April 2022) De Lima wants probe of alleged lapses in 4ps implementation. INQUIRER.
NET. https://newsinfo,inquirer.nev 1587968 de-lima-wants-probe-of-alleged-lapses-in-4ps-
implementation



It can also be recalled that DSWD struggled with the distribution of assistance to
thousands of parents and students under the AICS program. Furthermore, COA has called the
attention of the department because of its non-submission of documents corresponding to
payouts and issues on double payments of assistance to at least 310 beneficiaries under the
program.‘ Likewise, the role of DSWD in preventing and responding to gender-based violence
has been accentuated by the rise of reports of women and children becoming victims of abuse
and violence.S

Hence, in light of these issues in the Department and the policy of the State to promote
a just and dynamic social order through social services, this House Bill seeks to establish a
Barangay Social Welfare Office to aid the DSWD in implementing the aforementioned
programs in the local communities and uplift the quality of life of residents.

Under this House Bill, there shall be a barangay social welfare officer as head and
assisted by three (3) barangay social welfare employees. The office shall also have the
following units, namely: poverty alleviation, crisis management, and women and children
welfare, wherein each is assigned to enforce 4Ps, AICS, and intervention against Gender-
Based violence in the barangays.

Given the foregoing and in the promotion of social welfare, support for the enactment
of this measure is earnestly requested.

REP. EDUARDO R. RAMA JR.

‘ Ku, Russell (17 August 2021). Cod finds lapses in DSWD Program for crisis fund. Business World.
hutps:/‘www.bworldonline,com the-nation/202 1/08/17/389899/coa-finds-lapses-in-dswd-program-for-
crisis-fund’; Ferreras, Vince (16 August 2023). COA flags DSWD for deficiencies in payout of P 467-M
crisis aid. CNN Philippines. http:/www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/8/ 16, COA-DSWD-payout-
A tint

ippine Commission on Women (31 December 2022). Estado ni Juana: Status of the Filipino Women

Report.  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FKiw7HUIQp6STNo-CXA-OTFkv-JJS89g Miriam

College Center for Strategic Research(22 March 2021). Assessing the Organizational Responsiveness

and Service Delivery of Local Government Units and the Department of Social Welfare and

Development on Violence Against Women and Children amidst the Community Quarantine due to the

COVID-19 Pandemic. https: www.dswd,gov.ph wp-content uploads’ 2023/02/Final-Report-DSWD-

MCCSR_cover_v2-I-L pdf



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No._ 11064

Introduced by REP. EDUARDO R. RAMA JR.
2nd District, Cebu City

AN ACT ESTABLISHING BARANGAY SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICE,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Barangay Social Welfare
Office Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policy — The State values the role of social
workers in crafting and promoting a just and dynamic social order where people are
independent, and provided with adequate social services to improve their quality of life.

SECTION 3. Objective. — There is hereby created the Barangay Social Welfare Office
to facilitate the provision of social services, opportunities, and assistance under the programs
of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (“DWSD”) at the grassroots level.
Through this, social services are made accessible and easily available to individuals and
families in the barangay.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean as follows:

Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (“AICS”) — one of the social welfare
services of the DSWD that provides medical assistance, burial, transportation, education, food,
or financial assistance for other support services or needs of a person or family.

Case Management — a process used by DSWD to enable qualified household
beneficiaries to improve their functioning by dealing with their difficulties, specifically in
complying with the terms of the Program. It is a mutually agreed process of assessing, planning,
managing, coordinating, and advocating for services and other interventions for improving the
well-being of households using the Social Welfare and Development Indicator (SWDI) and
other related tools.


City or Municipal link — one of the field implementers of the 4Ps at the local level.

‘Community Assembly — one of the approaches to be used in validating the identity,
accuracy of information, and eligibility of the households under the 4Ps where the households
are gathered on a scheduled date and venue.

Crisis Situation — refers to a time in the individuals’ life when they experience a
breakdown or disruption in their usual or normal daily activities or family functioning which
disrupts or prevents them from adequately performing their social functions.

Crisis Intervention Unit or Section (CIU/S”) — is a special unit of the DSWD that
serves as an action center to immediately respond to cases of individuals and families in crisis.

Family Development Sessions — a monthly activity conducted with and attended by
a grantee or a responsible person, whose aim is to enhance parenting capabilities, thereby
encouraging the grantee or person to be a more active citizen in society.

Financial Assistance — refers to cash or guarantee letters provided to qualified
beneficiaries or through the service providers, namely: medical assistance, funeral assistance,
transportation assistance, educational assistance, food assistance, and cash assistance for other
support services.

House-to-House Registration — one of the approaches to be used in validating the
identity, accuracy of the information, and eligibility of the households under 4Ps for those
living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and for those who cannot attend the
scheduled community assembly.

Household — the social unit consisting of a person living alone or a group of persons
who sleep in the same housing unit, including any place of dwelling or facility, and have
common arrangements for the preparation and consumption of food.

Household Registration — the process of enrolling eligible household beneficiaries
in the 4Ps.

Household in special and difficult circumstances or peculiar situations — any
houschold that is assessed by a case manager as being in a special and difficult circumstance
or peculiar situation needing development interventions.

Local Social Welfare Development Office (“LSWDO”) — the local office of the
DSWD which is in formulating measures, developing strategies, providing assistance, and
delivering basic services relative to social welfare and development to the local community.


Material Assistance — refers to the provision of food and non-food items to
beneficiaries who need immediate material support which can be covered by the items listed
below, subject to the availability of the material assistance as follows: family food packs or
other food items, hygiene and sleeping kits, and assistive devices and technologies.

National Program Management Office (‘NPMO”) —an office of the DSWD for the
responsive and efficient implementation of 4Ps policy standards, guidelines, and regulations.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) — human development measure of
the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to
improve the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0-18.

Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division (“PMED”) — a division under the
NPMO that secures the list of eligible household beneficiaries.

Program Orientation Session — a session held for the 4Ps household beneficiaries
after being selected to help them understand the program and its objectives, and the roles of
other agencies or organizations.

Psychosocial support — refers to support given to help meet the psychological,
emotional, and social needs of beneficiaries and their families.

Psychological First refers to immediate assistance in the form of comfort giving
and clarificatory counseling provided to children, adolescents, adults, and families who are
affected by a disaster or traumatic incident.

Social Work Counseling — refers to counseling to help clients gain insights into their
feelings which affects their behaviors, and/or enable them to process their thoughts and
feelings. This also identifies potential solutions to the issues at hand for the crisis situation.

Youth Development Sessions. — a voluntary activity that serves as complementary
learning to the FDS where it provides additional learning intervention to adolescent children
of 4Ps households.

SECTION 5. Creation of the Barangay Social Welfare Office. — The Barangay
Social Welfare Office shall be organized in every barangay. Every office shall be under the
supervision of the regional or local office of the DSWD having jurisdiction over the city or
municipality where the barangay is located.

SECTION 6. Composition — Every barangay social welfare office shall be composed
of the Barangay Social Welfare Officer who shall be the head of the office, and three (3)
Barangay Social Welfare Employees.


SECTION 7. Qualifications. — To be eligible for the position of barangay social
welfare officer, he or she must possess the following qualifications:
a. Must be of legal age;
b. Must pass the Social Workers Licensure Examination;
c. Must have at least two (2) years of experience in social work; and
d. Must not have a pending case or not have been convicted of final judgment of
any crime.

Qualifications and exceptions applicable to this section shall be subject to any
conditions imposed by the Civil Service Commission (“CSC”) and the provisions of R.A 4373,
the “Act to Regulate the Practice of Social Work in the Philippines”, and R.A. 9433, the “Act
Providing for a Magna Carta for Public Social Workers.”

SECTION 8. Plantilla Position and Salary Grade. — The barangay social welfare
officer shall hold a plantilla position and be compensated with a salary grade of 13. He or she
shall be appointed under permanent status and protected by the Civil Service Act, R.A. 9433,
and other related laws, rules, and regulations.

SECTION 9. Security of Tenure. — No barangay social welfare officer shall be
removed or transferred without just or authorized causes enumerated in the Labor Code. He or
she must always be afforded due process. If he or she is unjustly dismissed, he or she shall be
entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority rights and back wages with twelve percent
(12%) interest to be computed from when his or her compensation was withheld up to the time
of reinstatement.

SECTION 10. Barangay Social Welfare Office Units — There shall be three (3) units
under the office to be headed by the barangay social welfare officer: Poverty Alleviation,
Women and Children Welfare, and Crisis Management.

a. Poverty Alleviation Unit facilitates the implementation of the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the barangay.

b. Crisis Management Unit aids in identifying recipients and in the submission of
documentary requirements to avail material and financial assistance under the
AICS Program of DSWD.

c. Women and Children Welfare Unit assists in cases involving abuse or violence;
and those who need special protection.

SECTION 11. Powers, Functions, and Responsibilities. — The barangay social
welfare officer shall exercise the following powers, functions, and responsibilities for the
corresponding units:

a. Poverty Alleviation
i. Assist in the registration of household beneficiaries in the 4Ps:


vi.

vii.

viii.

ix.

1. Coordinate with the local social welfare development office
(“LSWDO”) in attesting to the identity and eligibility of the
household beneficiaries of the 4Ps based on the list generated by
the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division (“PMED”) of
the 4Ps National Program Management Office (“NPMO”).

2. Post the list of eligible household beneficiaries in an open and
conspicuous area such as but not limited to the barangay hall,
covered courts, public bulletin boards, and daycare centers. The
list shall include the schedule, venue, and required documents to
be brought by the households during the community assembly
organized for the program orientation session of 4Ps.

3. Assist the LSWDO in organizing the community assembly
where the eligible household will sign the Oath of Commitment
and Landbank forms, and receive their Pantawid ID.

4. If there are eligible households that cannot attend the community
assembly, the officer shall facilitate the house-to-house
registration, signing of the Oath and Landbank forms, and
distribution of Pantawid ID.

Notify new and existing 4Ps beneficiaries of the requirements for
updating their information. This may be done by posting a notice in an
open and conspicuous place such as the barangay hall, covered courts,
public bulletin boards, and daycare centers.

Coordinate with the City or Municipal link or the LSWDO regarding the
beneficiary information update, and the status of the household
beneficiaries.

Assist the City or Municipal link in the case management of household
beneficiaries in special and difficult circumstances or peculiar
situations.

Lead case referrals for urgent cases requiring immediate intervention
such as protective custody, litigation and reporting, and medical and
psychosocial support.

Establish a grievance desk to receive and record grievances from the
beneficiaries of the 4Ps. All grievances will be made into a report and
submitted to the city or municipal link grievance officers.

Inform household beneficiaries of the schedule and venue of the
distribution of cash grants for over-the-counter payouts, and validate the
identity of the persons claiming the cash grants by checking their
household identification card issued by the DSWD.

Facilitate the organizing of 4Ps parent and youth groups from household
beneficiaries who will be part of the conduct of monthly family and
youth development sessions.

Assist in identifying existing household beneficiaries.

b. Crisis Management


i, Post the list of documentary requirements to receive financial or material
assistance in an open and conspicuous area.

ii. Conduct preliminary screening of the aforementioned requirements to

identify their completeness.

Refer the person or persons affected by crises to the Crisis Intervention

Unit or Sections, Social Welfare, and Development, or Malasakit

Centers nearest to the barangay.

iv. Render preliminary psychological first aid and social work counseling
for those who are affected by crises.

v. _ In cases where the clients to be assisted are groups of individuals, the
officer shall set the date and venue for the distribution of assistance.

c. Women and Children Welfare

i. Receive reports of women and children who are neglected, abused, in
need of special protection, or victims of violence.

ii. Report such cases to the LSWDO, law enforcement agencies, and courts,
for the filing of cases and issuance of social case studies.

iii, Accompany the victim to the nearest police station and coordinate with
local enforcement agencies, including the Women and Children Desk,
for the arrest of perpetrators and the protection of victims.

iv. Incase the victim is a woman, the officer shall conduct counseling and
provide other psychosocial support to the victim. He or she must also
assess the victim’s needs and safety, and inform her of the rights and
available remedies.

v. In case the victim is a child, the officer must conduct an initial
assessment of the child’s safety and risks in the child’s environment. If
parents are incapable of protecting the child or unavailable, he or she
shall have temporary supervision over the child.

SECTION 12. Employment. — The barangay council, led by the barangay chairman,
shall employ three (3) barangay social welfare employees who have met the qualifications as
prescribed by the DSWD.

SECTION 13. Powers, Functions, and Responsibilities. — The barangay social
welfare officer shall assign the barangay social welfare employees to each of the sub-units to
assist him or her in the performance of his or her responsibilities.

SECTION 14. Compensation. — The existing law governing wages in the region
where the barangay is located shall apply in determining the salaries of the barangay social
welfare employees.

SECTION 15. Code of Conduct. — The barangay social welfare officer and his or her
employees shall be guided by the Social Work Code of Ethics as adopted by the Board of Social
Work and approved by the Professional Regulation Commission (“PRC”). Furthermore, the


employees shall abide by the rules set by the officer to maintain order and discipline in the
workplace.

SECTION 16. Rights of the Barangay Social Welfare Officer and Employee —
Section 17 of Republic Act No. 9433 or the Magna Carta for Public Social Workers shall
govern the rights of the barangay social welfare officer and his or her employees.

SECTION 17. Hours of Work. — The barangay social welfare officer and his or her
employees shall work for not exceeding eight (8) hours a day or forty (40) hours a week.

SECTION 18. Overtime work. — In cases where their service is required beyond the
prescribed hours of work, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or non-working holidays, the
barangay social welfare officer and his or her employees shall be paid additional compensation
following the law.

SECTION 19. Leave Benefits. — The barangay social welfare officer and his or her
employees shall be entitled to leave benefits provided by law, such as but not limited to sick
leaves, maternity leave, and paternity leave.

SECTION 20. Other Benefits. — Benefits enumerated in Section 15 of the Magna
Carta for Public Social Workers shall be granted to the barangay social welfare officer and his
or her employees.

SECTION 21. Application of the Magna Carta of Public Social Workers — The
implementation of this Act shall be supplemented by the other provisions of the Magna Carta
of Public Social Workers.

SECTION 22. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to implement the provisions
of this Act, and its continued implementation thereafter, shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Social
Welfare and Development and the Department of Interior and Local Government, in
consultation with the Civil Service Commission and the National Labor Relations Commission,
shall formulate the rules and regulations, consistent with the provisions of this law, for its
implementation, within six (6) months from its effectivity.

SECTION 24. Separability Clause.— If, for any reason, any section of this Act shall
be deemed unconstitutional and invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be
affected and shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 25. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,
rules, and regulations, contrary to or inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are repealed
or amended accordingly.


SECTION 26. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,