FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2" 6 5 
·.·.>.-.·.1'-."11 ,1 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The position of provincial or city or municipal social welfare and development 
officer is a very crucial one. 
He/she not only formulates measures for the 
approval of the local sanggunian, but he/she also provides technical assistance 
and support to either the governor or the mayor in carrying out various measures 
to ensure the delivery of basic services and provisions of adequate facilities 
relative to social welfare and development services as provided for in the Local 
Government Code of 1991. 
As officer-in-charge of the office on social welfare and development services, 
he/she develops and implements, upon approval by the governor or mayor, plans 
and strategies pertaining to social welfare programs and projects. 
He/she not only identifies the basic needs of the needy, the disadvantaged and 
the impoverished and develops and implements appropriate measures to 
alleviate their problems, but he/she also provides relief and appropriate crisis 
intervention for victims of abuse and exploitation by being in the frontline of 
service delivery, particularly those of which have to do with immediate relief and 
assistance during the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters and 
calamities. 
Thus, there is an urgent need to professionalize the delivery of various basic 
social services by making the qualifications of these social welfare and 
development officers equivalent and comparable with their counterparts in the 
local government units. Setting certain parameters as to who would qualify as 
social welfare and development officers and making mandatory their appointment 
in municipal governments are steps in the right direction. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnest sought. 
OY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
. ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2" 6 5 
--1-:""·,"_ 
._f-
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: ' ' 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, BOOK 3, TITLE 5, ARTICLE 13, 
SECTION 483, AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 483, Article 13, Title 5, Book 3 of Republic Act No. 7160, 
otherwise known as The Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, is 
hereby further amended to read a follows: 
"SEC 483. Qualifications, Powers and Duties: (a) No person shall 
be'appointed social welfare and development officer unless he/SHE 
is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government 
.unit concerned, of good moral character [.] AND a duly licensed 
social worker [or a holder of college degree preferably in sociology 
or any other related course from a recognized college or university, 
and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent). He/SHE 
must have acquired experience in the practice of social work for at 
least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city social welfare 
and development officer, and three (3) years in the case of the 
municipal social welfare and development officer. 
The appointment of a social welfare and development officer is 
mandatory for the provincial, [and] city [,] and [optional for) 
municipal government." 
SEC 2. 
Separability Clause. -
If any provIsion of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or the application thereof to any person, circumstance or 
transaction is held invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions of this Act or 
the applicability of such provision to other persons, circumstances or transactions 
shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC 3. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of all other laws, decrees, orders, 
rules or regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed 
accordingly. 
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SEC 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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