Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House bit No, 630

Introduced by Representative EDUARDO R. RAMA, JR.

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 Filipinos,
especially those who are vulnerable and at-risk because of poverty, disability. age, and those who
are vietims 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 whercin
a number of them were not part of the Listahanan, or the National Houschold Targeting System
for Poverty Reduction (“NHTS-PR"). The Senate of the Philippines was also calied 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. hips: imww.coa.qov phiteports/performance-audit-reports/2022-2/follow-up~
the:performance-audit-on-the-pantawid-pamilyang-pllipino-programy
3 Lalu, Gabriel (26 April 2022) De Lima wants probe of alleged lapses in 4ps implementation.
INQUIRER. NET. https:/newsinfo.inquirer neV1587968/de-lina-wants-probe-of-alleged-lapses-in-
4ps-implementation



Tecan he recalled that NSWD ctraggled

parents and students under the AICS program. Furthermore, COA has called the attention ofthe
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 reporis of women and ciiidren becoming vietims of ubuse and vivience.*

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.
2nd District, City of Cebu

* Ku, Russell (17 August 2021). CoA finds lapses in DSWD Program for crisis fund. Business World.

iyywew bworldonline, com the-nation/202//08/4 7/389899)coa-finds-lapses-in-dswd-pro:
for-crisis-tund/; 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/2023/6/16/COA-DSWD-
payout-AICS-html

5 Philippine Commission on Women (31 December 2022). Estado ni Juana: Status of the Filipino
Women Report. https://drive.google.com/driveffolders/ 1FKiw7HUIQPESTNo-CXA-OTFkv-JJS899
Miriam College Center for Strategic Research(22 March 2021). Assessing the Organizational
Responsiveness and Service Delivery of Local Govemment 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. _hitos./iwww dswd.gov.phiwp-
contentiuploads/2023102/Final-Repor-DSWO-MCCSR cover_v2.1-1.pdf



Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Keguiar Session

House Bill No.

639

Introduced by Representative EDUARDO R. RAMA JR.

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, —

Office Act”.

Act shall be known as the “Rarangay Social Welfare

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 widh adcquaic social sex vives iv improve theit quality of

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

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.

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 sociai functions.

serves as an action center to immediately respond o cases of individuals and families in crisis.

t oF Section ¢  — fs a spec

unit of the DSWD that

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

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

support acrvices.

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

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,


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Household in special and difficult circumstances or peculiar situations — any

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

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 houschold 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.

and social needs of beneficiaries and their families.

Psychological First Aid — refers (o immediate assistance in the form of comfort giving
and clarificatory counseling provided to children, adolescents, adults, and families who are

affected by a di

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,


ONANRONS

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

SECTION 5. Creation of the Barangay Social Welfare Office. — The Barangay Social
Welfare Office shall be organized in every barangay. Every office shali be under the supervision

of the regional or local office of the DSWD having jurisdiction over the city or municipality where

SECTION 6. Composition — Every barangay social welfare office shall be composed of
the Barangay Social Welfure 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 egal age;

Must pass the Social Workers Licensure Examination;
(2) years of experience in socal work, and
Must not have a pending case or not have been convicted of final judgment of any
crime.

Qualifications and exceptions applicable to this section shali be subject to any conditions
imposed by the Civil Service Commission (“CSC”) and the provisions of R.A 4373, the “Act to
Regi of Social Wor "and the “A

‘Magna Carta for Public Social Workers.”

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SECTION 8. Plantilla Position and Salary Grade. — The barangay social wellare officer
shall hold a plantilla position and be compensated with a salary grade of 13. He or she shall be

under pormancnt status and protected by

related laws, rules, and regulations.

SECTION 9. Security of Tenure. — No barangay social welfare officer shail be removed

5s
reinstatement without loss of seniority rights and back wages with twelve percent (12%)
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

by the b:
under led by the barangay

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.

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

a. Poverty Alleviation

i. Assist in the registration of househoid beneficiaries in the 4Ps:

1

Coordinate with the local social welfare development office
CLSWDO")

houschold 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™).

Post the list of eligible household beneficiaries in an open and
iy
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,

the community asscmbly where

Assist the LSWDO in organi

the eligible household will sign the Oath of Commitment and
Landbank forms, and receive their Pantawid ID.
If there are eligible households that cannot aitend the community

Pantawid ID.

ii, Notify new and existing 4Ps beneficiaries of the requirements for updating
their information. Tais 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 conters.


CONANROENS

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

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

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

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

Assist in identifying existing houschold beneficiaries.

. Crisis Management

Post the list of documentary requirements to receive financial or material

identify their completeness.
Refer the person or persons atfected by crises (o the Crisis Intervention Unit
or Sections, Social Welfare, and Development, or Malasakit Centers nearest
to the barangay

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

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.

. Women and Children Welfare

Receive reports of women and children who are neglected, abused, in need
of special protection, o victims of violence.
Report such cases to the LSWDO, law enforcement agencies, and courts for



BSIScevaaeana

iii, Accompany the victim to the nearest police station and coordinate with local
enforcement agencies, including the Women and Children Desk, for the

iv. In case 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.

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

employees whom the barangay ‘Social welfare officer shall employ. The officer has the discretion
to prescribe qualifications necessary for the position, provided that it is not contrary to the law.

SECTION 13. Powers, Functions, and Responsibilities. — The barangay social welfare

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

SECTION 15. Code of Conduct. — The barangay social welfare officer and his or her
employees shalt 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

emaployces shall abide by the rules sct by the officer to mz ne tn 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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

SECTION 25. Repealing Clause. — A\l laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,
rules, and regulations, contrary to or inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are repeaied 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,