Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 117

Introduced by
HON. MARCELINO C. LIBANAN

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE DSWD SYSTEM FOR THE EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO
PROGRAM (4Ps), AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The successful implementation of any government program depends
primordially upon the efficiency of the agency mandated to roll out the program.
In the case of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which has been
institutionalized by virtue of Republic Act No. 11310 otherwise known as the 4Ps
Act, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has been mandated by
law to be the lead agency for the implementation of this program.

In the implantation of the 4Ps Act, key personnel are engaged in providing
support services to beneficiaries of 4Ps nationwide. They are the following

- Regional Program Coordinators (RPCs)
- Provincial Links

- Social Welfare Officer III (SWO III)

- City or Municipal Links (C/MLs)

- Social Welfare Assistants (SWAs)

These personnel are trained in case management process, counseling,
family therapy, group process, project management and other related training,
and they are being hired by the DSWD to serve as case managers or program staff
who directly work with qualified household-beneficiaries to effect change and
assist them to improve their well-being.

Their roles in the implementation of 4Ps Act is very critical as they serve
as the conduit between the stakeholders - DSWD, LGUs and the household-
beneficiaries themselves. As field implementers, they undertake frontline systems
operations. They coordinate with key partner stakeholders to ensure that services


to the household-beneficiaries are delivered efficiently, and timely. They are also
in charge of ensuring that the household-beneficiaries follow the 4Ps
requirements, and that appropriate interventions are provided to the beneficiaries
for the improvement of their well-being.

It is, however, truly unfortunate that despite the importance of these
personnel in the implementation of 4Ps, they are merely hired in a contractual
basis or through Contracts of Service (COS), thus, they are without security of
tenure, and they are not entitled to benefits.

This Representation believes that they should be regarded as regular
employees of the government as they perform tasks that are vital to the success
ofa government instituted program. In this manner, this will allow a streamlined
delivery of government service and ensure the attainment of the objectives of the
4Ps Act. The regularization of these positions will equate to creation of plantilla
positions for our implementers. As the 4Ps is an intervention anticipated to break
the intergenerational cycle of poverty, it would be ironic that the very
implementers of this program are the ones who might need such intervention in
the future due to unemployment. It is only fitting and proper that the individuals
who are at the core of the implementation of the program should be given the
opportunity for employment, enjoyment of security of tenure and entitlement of
benefits.

This Representation has previously filed HB No. 7410 during the 19"
Congress which aims for the creation of Plantilla positions for 4Ps
workers/implementers. The said measure was referred to the Committee on
Poverty Alleviation and a TWG created. The TWG crafted a substitute bill but
due to lack of material time, the same was not referred back to the mother
committee.

Thus, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

MARCELINO C. LIBANAN

Representative, 4Ps Partylist Vv


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No. 117

Introduced by
HON. MARCELINO C. LIBANAN

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE DSWD SYSTEM FOR THE EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO
PROGRAM (4Ps), AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine
Congress Assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “4Ps Workers Act”.

SEC, 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State upholds the Constitutional
guarantee on the right to security of tenure of all workers in private and public
sectors and shall afford full employment opportunity, social protection, and

decent work to public sector employees.

SEC 3. Coverage. — This Act shall cover all persons directly and primarily
engaged in providing support services to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4Ps) nationwide. These include 4Ps Regional Program
Coordinators, Provincial Links, City/Municipal Links, and all other positions

below the aforementioned.


SEC 4. Qualification. — A regional program coordinator must possess the

following qualifications:

a. Must be of legal age;

b. Must have not been sanctioned for violations of Republic Act No. 4373;

c. Must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude;

d. Must have a Master’s Degree in social work or its equivalent;

e. Must have passed the Social Worker Licensure Examination or the Civil
Service Professional Licensure Examination;

f. Four (4) years of supervisory/management experience;
A provincial link must possess the following qualifications:

a. Must be of legal age;

b. Must have not been sanctioned for violations of Republic Act No. 4373;
c. Must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude;
d. Must have passed the Social Worker Licensure Examination or the Civil

Service Professional Licensure Examination; and
e. Three (3) years of relevant experience.
A city/municipal link must possess the following qualifications:

a. Must be of legal age;

b. Must have not been sanctioned for violations of Republic Act No. 4373;


c, Must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude;

d.

|. Must have passed the Social Worker Licensure Examination or the Civil
Service Professional Licensure Examination;

. Must be certified by the DSWD as having received adequate training in
social work, particularly the conduct of case management;
For the incumbent 4Ps City/Municipal Links, must have received at
least a very satisfactory rating in two (2) consecutive performance
evaluation cycles based on approved performance standards set by the

DSWD.

All city/municipal links rendering service as such at the time of this Act
shall be given up to eighteen (18) months to comply with requirements

“hy” and “f”.

All other positions below city/municipal links must possess the

following qualifications:

a) Must be of legal age;
b) Must have not been sanctioned for violations of Republic Act No.
4373;

) Must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral

turpitude; and


d) Must have passed the Civil Service Sub-Professional Licensure

Examination.

SEC. 5. Reeruitment. — A qualified person shall file the application with
the DSWD to become a 4Ps regional program coordinator, provincial link,
city/municipal link, or other 4Ps workers. Discrimination against any applicant
on the basis of gender, religion, economic status, race, political affiliation, or any

other consideration, is prohibited.

SEC. 6. Salary. — 4Ps regional program coordinators, provincial links and
city/municipal links covered by this Act shall receive the salary equivalent to
Salary Grade 24, Salary Grade 22, and Salary Grade 15 of the civil service,

respectively.

SEC. 7. Additional Compensation and Allowances. — 4Ps regional
program coordinators, provincial links, city/municipal links, and other 4Ps
workers shall be provided the following additional compensation subject to the

guidelines provided:

a. Overtime Pay — for work rendered beyond the regular working hours;

b. Hazard Pay —for work where the place of assignment or condition of work
poses danger to their life or health;

c. Subsistence Allowance — for work where the place of assignment is in

isolated barangays which require long periods of travel on their part.


The DSWD shall provide the guidelines for the grant of the

abovementioned additional compensation and allowances.

SEC. 8. Application of CSC Rules and Regulations — All CSC rules on
working hours, tenure and transfer, and leave benefits shall apply to 4Ps

workers.

SEC. 9. Code of Conduct for 4Ps Workers. — Within six (6) months upon
approval of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with the Philippine Association
of Social Workers Inc., shall formulate a Code of Conduct for 4Ps regional
program coordinators, provincial links, city/municipal links, and other 4Ps
workers. These 4Ps workers shall be provided a copy of the Code at the

government’s expense.

SEC. 10. Training, Education and Skills Enhancement. - The DSWD,
in coordination with the Philippine Association of Social Work, Inc., shall
provide for a system of continuing education and skills, training and knowledge
enhancement programs for regional program coordinators, provincial links,

city/municipal links, and other 4Ps workers.

SEC. 11. — Progressive Regularization of Other Positions relative to
4Ps, After due deliberation and if warranted, additional plantilla positions of
employees involved in the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program may be created.


SEC. 12. - Appropriations — The amount necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current and subsequent General

Appropriations Act of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

SEC. 13. - Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of
Social Welfare and Development will full participation of the Philippine
Association of Social Workers, Inc., (PAS WI) and the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang
Pamilya ng Pantawid (SNPP), in consultation with the House Committee on
Poverty Alleviation and the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and
Rural Development, shall promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations

of this Act within ninety (90) days after approval of this Act.

SEC. 14. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, part of this Act shall
be rendered unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are

not thereby affected shall continue to be in effect and full force.

SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. — All orders, rules and regulations, issuances,
or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.


SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. - 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,