THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Social work was introduced as a professional activity in the Philippines during the 1920s. 
It was conceived by charity organizations in England and in the United States and the full 
development of which as a profession can be attributed to the Americans. The pioneering social 
workers in the Philippines, through scholarship grants, were trained in the School of Social Work 
in the United States. After completing their education abroad, they introduced a few courses at 
Centro Escolar University and the University of the Philippines. Today, a lot of colleges and 
universities offer bachelor and masters degrees in social work. 
Social work has been regarded, universally as "the profession which helps individuals, 
families, groups and communities to develop, improve, maintain or restore their capability for 
coping with the demands of their environment, through the use of the Social Work Methods of 
Intervention." 
Social work has been publicly recognized as a profession in June 1965 when the 
Philippine Congress enacted R.A. No. 4373, otherwise known as the "Social Work Law," which 
prescribes that only Social Work degree holders and licensed social worker can practice social 
work. 
Some people have the ability to manage stress. However, some are overwhelmed by 
exhaustion in trying to cope with their psychological problems without outside help. Such 
psychological problem or stress becomes the point of entry into the life another person by the 
Social Worker. 
Their clientele are the neglected, the abandoned, the abused and exploited street children, 
the drug dependents, alcoholics and the out of school youths, the squatters, homeless families, 
the unwed/single parents, the physically abusedhattered and disadvantaged women, the 
elderly/senior citizens, the disabled and these with special reeds. The bulk of their clients are the 
marginalized population: the poor, exploited, deprivedunderprivileged members of our society 
with multifaceted problems 
This legislative measure seeks to institutionalize Social Work as a distinct profession in 
recognition of their contribution to nation-building. 
The early passage of this bill is recommended. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
"04 
30 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY MANUEL B. VELAR JR. 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA OF SOCIAL WORKERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. This Act should be known as "Magna Carta of Social Workers." 
SECTION 2. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all registeredpractitioner social workers in 
the government and non-government service. 
SECTION 3. Recruitment and Qualification - The selection and appointment of social 
workers shall be in accordance with the merit and fitness.principle: Provided, That he/she be a 
registered social worker: Provided, further, That the CSC or the DOLE, as the case may be, shall 
develop and administer eligibilities to positions. 
SECTION 4. Transfer or Geographical Reassignment of Social Workers. - No transfer of 
geographical reassignment shall bF made or affected without a written notice to the social worker 
concerned stating therein the reasons for such transfer and reassignment. The notice shall be 
made thirty (30) days prior to the date of transfer of reassignment: Provided, That if the employee 
concerned disagrees with the order of transfer or reassignment he/she may appeal said order with 
, 
the CSC or the DOLE, as the cast may be: Provided, further, That pending approval such transfer 
or reassignment shall be held in abeyance: Provided, furthermore, That no transfer and/or 
reassignment whatsoever shall be made three (3) months prior any local or national elections: 
Provided, finally, That the necessary expenses of the transfer and/or reassignment of the social 
worker and hidher immediate family shall be paid by the government. 


SECTION 5. Security of Tenure - No social worker holding a permanent position shall be 
terminated except for cause: Provided, in the event the social worker is found to be unjustly 
dismissed, he/she shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority rights and back 
wages with twenty percent (20%) interest to be computed from the time hisher compensation 
was withheld from h i d e r  up to the time of reinstatement. 
However, if the social worker does not desire to be reinstated, he/she shall be entitled to 
back wages and separation pay with twenty percent (20%) interest to be computed from the time 
hisher compensation was withheld from h i d e r  up to the of reinstatement. 
SECTION 6. Discrimination Prohibited. - A social worker shall not be discriminated by 
reason of creed, sex, political beliefs, civil status, and ethnic groupings in the exercise of hisher 
profession. 
SECTION 7. No UnderstaffinglOverloading of Social Workers. - There shall be no 
understaffing or overloading of social workers. The ratio of staff to clientele shall be such as to 
reasonably effect a sustained delivery of quality social service at all times without overworking 
the social workers and over-extending their services. Only professional and registered social 
workers shall occupy the social work positions in all social work agencies and institutions of 
government. All social work agencies and institutions of government. All social work 
government agencies and institutions, except for the DSWD, shall be headed by a professional 
registered social worker. 
SECTION 8. Safeguards in Administrative Proceedings. - In every administrative 
proceeding, a social worker shall have: 
a) the right to be informed of the charges; 
b) the right to full access on evidences against him; 
c) the right to defend himself or by a counsel of hidher choice; 
d) the right to be given adequate time to prepare hisher case, which shall in no case 
exceed twenty (20) days; 
e) the right to appeal to designated authorities; 
0 the right to cross-examine witnesses and to processes for production of witnesses; 


g) the right to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in hisher defense in case 
of exoneration or dismissal of the charges; 
h) the right to be informed of his rights under the Magna Carta for Social Workers; and 
i) such other rights as to ensure fairness and impartiality in the proceedings. 
SECTION 9. Code of Conduct. - All social workers must be guided by its code of ethics 
not contrary to law, morals, safety, health, public policy and public order. 
SECTION 10. Normal Hours of Work. - The normal hours of work of any social worker 
shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day or forty (40) hours a week. Hours of worked shall include: 
(a) the time the social worker is required to be active duty or to be at a prescribed workplace; (b) 
the time which the social worker is permitted to work; (c) the time which a social worker is 
required to work in place other than the prescribed workplace. 
SECTION 11. Overtime Work, where the exigencies of the service so require, any social 
worker, whether in the government or non-government service, may be required to render service 
beyond the normal eight (8) hours a day, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays or non-working 
holidays. In such case, the social worker shall be paid and additional compensation in accordance 
with existing laws on the matter. 
SECTION 12. On-Call Pay- In cases of "on-calls" status, the social worker shall be 
entitled to an "on-call" pay equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of hisher regular wage. "On-call" 
status refers to a condition when social workers are called upon to respond to urgent or 
immediate need or relief work during emergencies such that the social worker cannot utilize the 
time for personal needs; Provided, that no social worker shall be placed in "on-call" status 
beyond seven (7) days. 
SECTION 13. Married Social Worker - Whenever possible, the proper authorities shall 
take steps to enable married couples, both of whom are public workers, to be employee or 
assigned in the same municipality but not in the same office: Provided, That it shall not apply to 
married couples already assigned in the same office at the time the law takes effect. 
SECTION 14. Additional Compensation - Within sic (6) months after the effectivitiy of 
this Act, the salaries of the social workers of the DSWD, the DOH and other national 


government offices shall be upgraded to one salary grade higher of hisker present salary grade 
under the Salary Standardization Law. In the case of social workers employed in local 
government units, the upgrading shall be subject to the approval of the provincial board, city or 
municipal council, as the case may be. 
SECTION 15. Hazard Allowance. - Social workers assigned in difficult areas, strife-torn 
or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, mental hospitals, leprosariums, areas declared 
under a state of calamity or emergency, such that they become exposed dto great danger, shall be 
compensated hazard allowance equivalent to at least twenty percent (20%) of the monthly basic 
salary. 
SECTION 16. Subsistence Allowance. - Social workers who are required to render 
services in communities, institutions, hospitals and other social welfare establishments that 
require their services to be available at all times, should be entitled to full svbsistence allowance 
of three (3) meals which shall be computed in accordance with prevailing circumstances. 
SECTION 17. Longevity Pay. - A monthly longivity pay equivalent to five percent (5%) 
of the monthly basic pay shall paid to a social worker for every five (5) years of continous, 
efficient and meritorious service. 
SECTION 18. Clothing Allowance, - All social workers shall be entitled for a clothing 
allowance of at least two hundred pesos (200.00) per month. 
SECTION 19. Housing - All social workers who are in tour of duty and, because of 
unavoidable circumstances are forced to stay in the institution, community, etc. shall be entitled 
to free living quarters: Provided, That if such living quarters are not available, the social worker 
shall receive housing allowance the rate of which shall be reviewed periodically. 
SECTION 21. Right to Self-organization. - Social workers shall have the right to freely 
joint, assist, organizations or unions for purposes not contrary to law, in order to defend and 
protect their mutual interest and to obtain redress of grievances through peaceful concerted 
activities; Provided, That under no circumstances shall government social workers be allowed to 
join, declare, stage, form any strike or cessation of services. 


SECTION 22. Freedom from Interference or Coercion. - It shall be unlawful for any 
person to commit any of the following acts of interference or coercion: 
a) to require as a condition of employment that the social worker shall not join a social 
worker organization or union; 
b) to discriminate in order to encourage or discourqge membership in any social work 
organization or union; 
c) to prevent a social worker from carrying out hisher duties functions in the social 
work organization or union or to penalize the social work organization or union or to 
penalize the social worker for any lawful action performed in the capacity; 
d) to perform acts calculated. to diminish the independence and freedom of the union or 
organization to direct its own affairs. 
SECTION 23. Consultation. - The DSWD shall consult professional and social work 
organizations or unions in formulating policies to govern the social security of the social 
workers. 
SECTION 24. Human Resources Development - The government and non-government 
agencies shall conduct human resource development and management study in the following 
areas; 
(a) Adequate facilities and resources to render quality social service to the 
clientele; 
(b) Opportunity for social workers to grow and develop their potentials and 
experience a sense of worth and dignity in their work; 
(c) Mechanisms for democratic consultations; 
(d) Staffing patterns and standards of social welfare to ensure the people receive 
quality care; 
(e) Ways and means of enabling rank and file workers viable educational 
opportunities for personal growth and development; and 
(0 Upgrading of working conditions, reclassification of positions and salaries of 
social workers to correct the disparity vis-his other professions. 


SECTION 25. Rules and Regulations. - The DSWD in coordination with DOLE, the 
CSC, and the NLRC shall formulate and prepare necessary rules and regulations in implementing 
the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 26 Penal Provisions - Any person who shall willfully interfere with restrain or 
coerce any social worker in the exercise of hisher rights or shall in any manner commit any act 
in violation of any of the provisions of this Act, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not 
less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,OOO.OO) but not more than Forty thousand pesos 
(P40,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not more than one (1) year or both at the discretion of the court. 
If the offender is a public official, the court, in addition to the penalties provided in the 
preceding paragraph, may impose the additional penalty of disqualification fi-om office. 
SECTION 27. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 
force and affect. 
SECTION 28. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or other 
issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 29. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifleen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,