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Quezon City IE pare 13 avs ms %
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 6, ME ET iy
First Regular Session ‘A ay)
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House BILL No, 3864 Wo inex

Introduced by REP. DENNIS “TOM” L. HERNANDEZ

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SOCIAL WORK SCHOLARSHIP AND RETURN SERVICE
PROGRAM FOR DESERVING STUDENTS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Social work professionals play an integral role in addressing the needs of our
communities, especially the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society. Their work
is crucial in the delivery of social welfare services, disaster response, rehabilitation
programs, and in safeguarding the

rights and welfare of citizens in general.

However, there is a general lack of licensed social workers despite the growing
demand from local government units and various institutions. This gap is often
attributed to limited access to quality education and the migration of trained
professionals to other fields or countries.

To address this challenge, this bill seeks to establish a Social Work Scholarship
and Return Service Program (SWSRSP) for deserving and qualified students. This
program will provide financial assistance to cover tuition and other necessary
expenses, enabling scholars to complete their degree in social work. In return,
recipients will commit to serve in government or accredited social welfare institutions
for a prescribed period, ensuring that the investment in their education directly benefits
communities in need.

By ensuring a steady supply of social work professionals, this bill supports the
government's broader goals of poverty alleviation, social justice, and inclusive
development.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

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REP. DENNIS “TOM” L. ee
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4th District of Rizal

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JOSE



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3664

Introduced by REP. DENNIS “TOM” L. HERNANDEZ

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SOCIAL WORK SCHOLARSHIP AND RETURN SERVICE
PROGRAM FOR DESERVING STUDENTS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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 "Social Work Scholarship
Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote and develop the skills and capabilities of public social workers to make them
more responsive and better equipped in delivering social services and programs. The
State shall likewise encourage students with proper qualifications and excellent
abilities to pursue social work education and eventually become social workers in the
government service.

Towards this end, the State shall establish a social work scholarship and return service
program that will help deserving students pursue social work education and training
who shall eventually render services in government social work offices or institutions
in their respective hometowns, in any underserved municipality or city in any province,
as part of their integration into the government social welfare service system. This
shall ensure the availability of social workers who shalll provide quality social welfare
and development services in every municipality in the country, especially in
underserved, remote, economically underdeveloped, distressed, conflict-afflicted and
geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

SEC. 3. Establishment of the Social Work Scholarship and Return Service
Program. - There shall be established a Social Work Scholarship and Return Service
Program (SWSRS) Program for deserving students in state universities and colleges
(SUCs) or in partner private higher education institutions (PHEls) in regions where
there are no SUCs offering a social work course: Provided, That the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) may designate more than one (1) partner higher education
institutions (HEIs) in the region, including regions where there are existing SUCs
offering the Social Work programs as deemed necessary, upon consultation with the


Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In all cases, qualified applicants from municipalities shall be prioritized in the allocation
of scholarship slots to ensure the assignment of at least one (1) social worker for every
barangay in the country.

SEC. 4. Coverage. - The SWSRS Program established under this Act shall be made
to deserving Filipino students who want to pursue a degree in Social Work.

The student financial assistance for the SWSRS Program shall include the following
(a) Free tuition and other schoo! fees;

(b) Allowance for prescribed books, supplies and equipment,

(c) Clothing or uniform allowance;

(d) Allowance for dormitory or boarding house accommodation;

(e) Transportation allowance;

() Practical training fees, including financial assistance;

(g) Social Work licensure examination review fees;

(h) Social Work licensure examination fees;

(i License fees;

() Annual medical insurance; and

(k) Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowances.

SEC. 5. Qualification Requirements. - An applicant for the SWSRS Program shall
possess the following qualifications:

(a) Must be a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines; and

(b) Must have passed the entrance examination and complied with other related
requirements for admission into a Social Work degree program in the SUC or PHE!
where the scholar intends to enroll, as well as the other requirements of the CHED
and the DSWD.

SEC. 6. Conditions for the Grant of Scholarship. - Deserving students accepted to
the SWSRS Program shall be subject to the following conditionalities:

(a) Must sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the scholarship on a
form prescribed by the CHED and the DSWD pursuant to the provisions of this Act;

(b) Must carry the full load of subjects prescribed per semester by the SUC or PHEI,
and shall not, under any circumstance, drop a course which will result in underloading;

(c) Must finish the entire Social Work Program within the prescribed time frame of the
SUC or the PHEI where the scholar is enrolled in, subject to the retention policies of
the SUC or the PHEI: Provided, That the deserving student accepted to the SWSRS
Program, before actual enrollment in the first semester as a scholar, may be allowed
for valid and justifiable reasons, to defer enrollment or to file a leave of absence:
Provided, further, That a scholar who is already enrolled, may be allowed, for valid
and justifiable reasons, to file a leave of absence;


(d) Must undertake the mandatory practical training hours in the government or duly
accredited social welfare and development agencies upon graduation from Social
Work Program for scholars as prescribed by relevant laws, rules, or regulations;

(e) Must take the board examination within a maximum period of one (1) year after
graduation and the mandatory practical training hours; and

(f) Must render return of service as provided under Section 8 of this Act.

The scholar who fails to pass the licensure examination within one (1) year after
graduation and completion of the mandatory practical training hours and other
academic requirements shall shoulder all the necessary expenses for the succeeding
professional licensure examinations.

SEC. 7. Disqualifications. - The scholarship grant shall terminate and the scholar
shall repay the full cost of scholarship and related benefits received, including all the
expenses incurred during the participation in the scholarship program in case of the
following circumstances:

(a) If the scholar accepts another scholarship from other government or private agency
or entity while enjoying the benefits under this Act;

(b) If the scholar fails to meet the academic requirements or to complete the course
within the prescribed period without valid cause, as may be determined by the SUC or
PHEI, or CHED or DSWD through appropriate regulations, such as, but not limited to,
absence without notice, willful neglect or other causes within the control of the scholar;

(c) If the scholar fails to obtain a passing grade in the Social Work Licensure
Examination within five (5) years from the time the scholar has graduated and
completed the mandatory practical training hours; Provided, That, instead of repaying
the full cost of the scholarship and related expenses, the scholar whose scholarship
status has been terminated under Section 7 (b) or 7 (c) of this Act may opt to engage
in work within the social work and development system, such as engaging in research
work for the government or teaching social work-related subjects in a public
educational institution, or being integrated into the social work and development
system for a period prorated to the number of years of mandatory retum service
provided under this Act; Provided, further, That the altemative return service shall
exclude the period of mandatory practical training hours; and,

(d) While being a scholar, the scholar commits gross misconduct in a manner that
would bring significant damage to the SUC or PHE! concemed or the general public.

SEC. 8. Mandatory Return Service and Integration of the Scholar into the Public
Social Welfare and Development System. - Upon passing the Social Work
Licensure Examination administered by the Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC) and conferment by the PRC of the license to practice the social work profession,
the scholar shall be integrated into the social welfare and development system,
through the DSWD, and shall receive the appropriate civil service rank, salary and
related benefits, The scholar shall serve in a government office, government hospital,
or any accredited government social welfare and development facility in the scholar's
hometown or, in the absence of a need thereat, in any municipality within the scholar's
home province, or in any underserved municipality closest to the scholar's hometown
determined by the DSWD as a priority area, for at least one (1) year for every
scholarship year availed of, Provided, That scholars from municipalities with no


licensed social workers shall render the retum service work in the scholars hometown;
Provided, further, That the scholar who assumed the slot intended for a resident of
another municipality, no resident of which qualified to be a scholar under this Act, shall
render the return service work in the same municipality where the slot was originally
intended; Provided, finally, That in all cases, the scholar shall only be required to serve
in such municipality if no threat to the scholar's life is present thereat.

The scholar shall render the mandatory return service within six (6) years from the
time of passing the Social Work Licensure Examinations; Provided, however, That
the mandatory return service and integration into the public social welfare and
development system under this Act shall be separate and distinct from the mandatory
practical training required prior to taking the license examination for social workers;
Provided, further, That the number of years served by the scholar in the public social
welfare and development system as part of the return service requirements, if any, of
the SUC or PHEI concerned, or social welfare research within the Philippines in a
public institution or any international organization accredited by the DSWD for the
underprivileged areas within the Philippines, or full-time teaching in a public institution
shall be counted in the required number of years of return service under this Act;
Provided, finally, That the licensed social worker shall receive appropriate salaries and
other benefits for service rendered under the mandatory integration into the public
‘social welfare and development system.

SEC. 9. Sanctions. - A social worker who has availed of the SWSRS Program but
fails or refuses to comply with the mandatory return service and integration provided
under this Act shall be required to pay the full cost of scholarship, including other
benefits and expenses incurred by reason of participation in the SWSRS Program.

In case of nonpayment, as provided in the preceding paragraph, the PRC shall deny
the renewal of the social worker's license: Provided, That the abovementioned
penalties shall not apply to social workers who fail to comply with the required return
‘service on account, or by reason of, severe or serious illness.

SEC. 10. Harmonization of All Nationally-Funded Scholarship Programs. - Upon
the effectivity of this Act, all nationally-funded social work scholarship programs shall
be harmonized, rationalized, and consolidated under the SWSRS Program. The
harmonization, rationalization and consolidation of scholarship programs under the
SWSRS Program shall be in coordination with the UniFAST Board created under
Republic Act No. 10687 or the "United Student Financial Assistance System for
Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Act”.

SEC. 11. Training While Serving the Mandatory Return Service. - The CHED and
DSWD shall develop programs for the continuous training of scholars while serving
the mandatory return service under this Act.

SEC. 12. Social Work Schools and Plantilla Positions. - in order to have a holistic
solution and address the scarcity of social workers in the country, the CHED, in
coordination with the DSWD, shall ensure that each region shall have at least one (1)
school offering social work programs. For this purpose, the CHED shall also streamline
the requirements for the application for authority to offer Social Work Programs. The
CHED and DSWD shall issue the appropriate guidelines within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act.

In addition, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), DSWD and local


government units (LGUs) where applicable, shall ensure that all scholars required to
render return service under this Act shall be appointed to appropriate plantilla positions
commensurate to their merit and fitness.

SEC. 13. Role of the CHED. - The CHED shall perform the following functions in the
implementation of the SWSRS Program:

(a) Conduct regular information dissemination of and recruitment to the SWSRS
Program in SUCs and PHEls to ensure that there will be an adequate number of social
workers in all the municipalities and provinces;

(b) Review, modify, and enhance the social work education curriculum standards to
prepare graduates to work in community-based social work programs and to ensure
that social work programs remain up-to-date and are of comparable quality to social
work education in other countries;

(c) Together with the DSWD, develop programs for the continuous training of scholars
while serving the mandatory return service under this Act;

(d) Coordinate with the DSWD, SUCs, and PHEls for the integration of the social work
scholar into the public social welfare and development system;

(e) Formulate, promulgate, disseminate and implement the necessary policies,
standards, guidelines, and rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
the SWSRS Program under this Act;

(f) Develop strategies to improve the quality of the Social Work Program and
implement a system of quality control for the offering of Social Work Program in SUCs
and PHEls;

(g) Require SUCs and PHEls to implement and submit a tracking, monitoring,
evaluation and assistance system to determine the whereabouts of the social work
scholars after graduation from SUCs or PHEls;

(h) Ensure the timely and adequate release to partner-SUCs and PHEls of the funds
necessary for the implementation of the SWSRS Program, and monitor the timely and
adequate release of the same by the partner-SUCs and PHEls to the scholar-
beneficiaries under the SWSRS Program; and

(i) Recommend, in coordination with partner-SUCs and PHEls, to the DBM the amount
necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 14. Role of the SUCs and PHEls. - The SUCs and PHEls shall perform the
following functions in the implementation of the SWSRS Program:

(a) Monitor the progress of all scholars in their respective educational institutions,
identify those who have low or failing grades, and counsel them to improve their
academic performance;

(b) Coordinate with the CHED to ensure the timely release and accurate distribution
of allowances and other fees to the scholars;

(c) Make an annual report to the CHED on the performance of social work scholars
and other necessary or vital information regarding the SWSRS Program;

(d) Assist the CHED in the conduct of regular information dissemination on, and


recruitment to the SWSRS Program;

(e) Review, modify, and enhance the social work education curriculum to prepare the
scholars to work in community-based social work programs to ensure that social work
education programs remain up to date with recent trends and developments;

(f) Recommend strategies to CHED and DSWD to improve the implementation of the
SWSRS Program;

(g) Conduct a tracer study on the whereabouts of their respective social work scholars
after graduation from their institution and submit the results thereof to the CHED;

(h) Recommend to CHED and DBM the budget necessary to implement the SWSRS.
Program in their respective institutions based on their projected capacity and
evaluation of the adequacy of the funding under this Program; and

() Perform such other functions as may be deemed necessary for the success of the
SWSRS Program.

SEC. 15. Role of the DSWD. - The DSWD shall perform the following functions in the
implementation of the SWSRS Program:

(a) In coordination with CHED, SUCs and PHEls, determine the initial number and
distribution of social workers needed for each barangay, municipality, city, or province,
which determination shall be made every five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act;

(b) Ensure the integration of scholars into the public social work and development
service system, and monitor their performance during the mandatory return service
period;

(c) Assist the CHED in the conduct of the regular information dissemination on the
SWSRS Program and in the recruitment of scholar-applicants;

(d) Craft a career pathway for social workers who are beneficiaries of the SWSRS
Program in the public social work and development system to incentivize scholar-
‘social workers to continue serving therein;

(e) Coordinate with the LGUs for the mandatory integration of scholar-social workers
into the public social welfare and development service system; and,

(f) Recommend to DBM the creation of plantilla positions for scholar-social workers
with salary grades commensurate to their educational achievement, training, and other
qualifications.

SEC. 16. Role of LGUs. - LGUs are mandated to support the integration of the social
work scholars into the public social work and development system by performing the
following functions:

(a) Create a mechanism or system to provide the necessary support, including support
to ensure their safety and protection, for the integration of social workers who will be
assigned to the LGU;

(b) Coordinate with the DSWD and the social workers to determine the specific needs
or requirements of the community and provide the necessary assistance, including
involvement in the research component of the public social work and development
system;


(c) As far as practicable and subject to availability of funds, maintain a regular
counterpart fund to be used for providing the balance of the scholarship budget for
scholars enrolled in SUCs or PHEls;

(d) Provide other forms of financial assistance, subject to availability of funds, to
support the integration program of social workers in the LGUs;

(e) Recommend to the CHED any strategies to improve the implementation of the
SWSRS Program;

(f) In coordination with the CHED, SUC, or PHE! concerned, conduct an information
dissemination campaign on the SWSRS Program within the municipality, city or
province, with the objective of attracting qualified applicants to the said Program;

(g) Execute and enforce laws, ordinances and regulations which may, directly or
indirectly, have a positive impact on the SWSRS Program; and

(h) Perform all other acts to assist the scholar to ensure that the scholar finishes the
Social Work Program within the timeframe provided by the SUC or PHEI or the CHED.

SEC. 17. Funding. - The amount necessary to carry out the implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the participating SUC,
DSWD and CHED.

Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of the social work
scholarship provided under this Act shall be included in the scholarship program of
SUCs and CHED in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 18. Transitory Provisions. — Upon effectivity of this Act, current scholars under
the existing scholarship programs of DSWD and CHED shall automatically be eligible
to avail the benefits under this Act.

SEC. 19. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on SWSRS Program. - There
is hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and
evaluate the implementation of this Act.

The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five (5) members each from the
Senate and from the House of Representatives, and shall include the following:
Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education;
Chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education;
Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural
Development; Chairperson of the House Committee on Social Services; and three (3)
members each to be chosen from the membership of the Senate Committee on
Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, and the House Committee on Higher and
Technical Education by the Senate President and the House Speaker, respectively:
Provided, That at least one (1) member from the respective nominees of the House of
Representatives and the Senate shall be chosen from the Minority.

‘SEC. 20. Determination of Number and Allocation of Scholars to be Admitted. -
Every five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, DSWD and CHED shall, upon
assessing the shortage of social human resource workforce in the country against the
ideal standards and the upon consultation with participating SUCs and PHEls, the
DBM, and the PRC, determine the number and geographical allocation of scholars to
be admitted every school year allocating at least one (1) scholarship slot in
municipalities and cities that lack the ideal number of government licensed social


workers: Provided, That in determining the allocation quota of the scholars to be
admitted to the Program, utmost priority is given to regions with the low social worker-
to-population ratios: Provided, finally, That in order to ensure an adequate number of
competent human resources for social work for the entire country, the DSWD shall
submit to Congress the National Social Work and Development Human Resource
Master Plan, and all updates thereto.

SEC. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred twenty (120)
days from the effectivity of this Act, CHED and DSWD shall, in coordination with the
Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, Coordinating Council of
Private Educational Associations, PRC, DBM, SUCs, PHEls, recognized associations
of social work and other relevant stakeholders, formulate and issue the rules and
regulations to fully implement the provisions of this Act: Provided, That the absence of
the implementing rules and regulations shall not affect the effectivity of this Act and
the grant of benefits provided therein.

SEC. 22. Separability Clause. - \f any part or provision of this Act shall be held invalid
or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions hereof that are not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, or rules inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 24, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,