THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINE§ 
) 
SENATE 
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S. B. No. 
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Introduced by SENATOR LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCIT 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Effective delivery of basic social welfare services rests on the strength of the 
countryIs social welfare and development programs and the quality of officers and 
personnel implementing the same. 
Unfortunately, current initiatives along these lines are sporadic and program 
implementation neglected, if not thoughtlessly abandoned. Worse, even officers and 
employees manning them lack the necessary training and are not provided with adequate 
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incentives to increase productivity, efficiency and enhance ingenuity. 
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In fact, only few social work positions in various social welfare and development 
agencies are occupied by social workers, who have the necessary training and work 
experience to handle the delicate nature of the functions of said posts. 
If the country is to truly promote the general welfare and well-being of the people, 
there is a need to revitalize government’s social welfare policy directions, reengineer 
appropriate social welfare and development agencies and most importantly, promote the 
social and economic conditions of hundreds of social welfare and development workers 
in order to pursue sustained delivery of quality service. 
Through these, the government shall be able to prioritize social welfare and 
development concerns and attract more competent and qualified individuals to participate 
towards such ends. 
The proposed measure aims to provide for Magna Carta for Social Workers and 
Social Welfare and Development Workers in order to strengthen delivery of social 
welfare and development services and institutionalize the social work profession. 
Hence, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUISA “LOI~~ 
PQZJERCITO ESTFUDA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by SENATOR LUISA 'cLOI'9 P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND SOCIAL 
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT WORKERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carta for Social 
Workers and Social Welfare and Development Workers". 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - The State shall promote and improve the social 
and economic well being of the social workers and social welfare and development 
workers, their living and working conditions, and terms of employment. It shall develop 
their sltills and capabilities to make them more responsive to the needs and problems. of 
their clients and better equipped in delivering social services and programs. The State 
shall likewise encourage those with proper qualifications and excellent abilities to remain 
in social development work in both government and non-government service. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used on this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
a) 
Social Work - refers to the profession that promotes social change, 
problem solving in human relationship and the empowerment and 
liberation of people to enhance their well being. Utilizing theories of 
human behavior and social systems, social work intervenes at the points 
where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights 
and social justice are fundamental to social work. 
b) 
Social Welfare and Development Program - refers to the combination of 
developmental, preventive, and restorative services designed to promote 
the welfare of individuals, families, groups and communities to develop, 
enhance and/or restore their capability for functioning and coping with the 
demands of their environment. 


c) 
Social Worker - refers to a natural person who is a registered and licensed 
social worker and who is a holder of a valid certificate of registration and a 
valid professional identification card issued pursuant to R.A. 4373 and RA 
8981 as amended. 
d) 
Private Agency - refers to any non-government entity such as, but not 
limited to, private corporation, hospital, industry, foundation and 
association implementing social welfare and development programs. 
e) 
Social Welfare and Development Agency (SWDA) refers to: 
1) 
National or local government social welfare and development 
office; 
Non-governmental organization registered with and/or accredited 
by the Department of Social Welfare and Development; or 
3) 
Unit/division 
of 
any 
public 
and 
private 
agency/organization with 
social welfare 
and development 
functions. 
2) 
f) 
Social Welfare and Development Worker - refers to those employed in 
social welfare and development agencies and private agencies as defined 
herein. 
Sec. 4. Coverage. - This .Act shall cover all social workers and. social welfare and 
development workers as defined herein. 
Sec. 5. 
Appointment. - Social work positions in all social welfare and 
development agencies shall be occupied by social workers. 
a) 
All government SWDAs shall be headed by social workers; 
b) 
The position of Social Welfare and Development Officer is mandatory for 
the provincial, city and municipal governments; 
c) 
All private SWDAs shall have at least one (1) social worker. Appointment 
to the position of social welfare and development worker in government 
SWDAs shall be in accordance with the qualification standards of the 
Civil Service Commission. 


Sec. 6. 
Geographical *Reassignment of Social 
orker/Social Welfare and 
Development Worker. - Except in emergency situations, no geographical reassignment 
shall be made or effected without written notice to the social worker/social welfare and 
development worker concerned stating therein the reason/s for such: Provided, That said 
written notice shall be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of reassignment; 
Provided, Further, That in the government sector, reassignment coinciding with 
any local or national election shall be made in compliance with the Election Code and 
other existing laws and rules; Provided, Finally, That the necessary expenses for the 
reassignment of the social worker/social welfare and development worker and hidher 
immediate family shall be paid for by the agency concerned. 
Sec. 7. Work Load. - The ratio of social worker/social welfare and development 
worker to clientele shall be such as to reasonably effect a sustained delivery of quality 
service. 
Sec. 8. Normal Hours of Work. - The normal hours of work of any social 
workedsocial welfare and development worker shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day or 
forty (40) hours a week. 
Hours worked shall include: a) all the time during which a social worker/social 
welfare and development worker is required to be on active duty or to be at a prescribed 
workplace; and b) all the time during which a social worker/social welfare and 
development worker is suffered or permitted to work; Provided, That, the time when a 
social worlter/social welfare and development worker is placed on "On Call" status shall 
not be considered as hours worked but shall entitle the social worker/social welfare and 
development worker to an "On' Call" pay equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of hidher' 
regular wage. "On Call" status refers to a condition when social worker/social welfare 
and development workers are called upon to respond to urgent or immediate need for 
relief work during emergencies such that he/she cannot devote the time for hisiher own 
use. 
Sec. 9. Payment of Overtime Work. - 
a) 
Any social worker/social welfare and development worker who renders 
service beyond the normal eight (8) hours of work a day shall be 
compensated in accordance with existing laws and prevailing practices. 


b) 
Where a social worlter/social welfare and development worker is made to 
work on any special holiday he/she shall be paid an additional 
compensation in accordance with existing laws. 
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Sec. 10. Rights of Social Worker/Social Welfare and Development Worker. - 
The social worker/social welfare and development worker shall have the following rights: 
Protection from discrimination by reason of sex, sexual orientation, age, 
political or religious beliefs, civil status, physical characteristics/disability 
or ethnicity; 
Protection from any form of interference, intimation, harassment, or 
punishment, to include but not limited to arbitrary reassignment or 
termination of service, in the performance of hidher duties and 
responsibilities; 
Join, organize or assist organizations or unions for lawful purposes; 
Protection from any act that will prevent him/her from applying 
professional interventions that the client's situation may require; and 
Opportunities for continuing professional growth and development. 
Sec. 11. Compensation and Benefits. - 
The existing law on the salary scale of 
government employees shall apply in determining the salaries of social workers/social 
welfare and development workers in government service, including the local government 
units. Social workers/social welfare and development workers in private agencies shall 
receive salaries not below the salary scale of similar position levels in government. 
Benefits enjoyed by the social workerdsocial welfare and development workers in 
government agencies shall likewise be enjoyed by their counterparts in the private 
agencies. 
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Sec. 12. 
Leave Benefits. - Social workers/social welfare and development 
workers shall be entitled to all leave benefits and privileges, such as but not limited to 
maternity, paternity, vacation and sick leaves, as provided for under existing laws. 


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Sec. 13. Insurance and 
enefits. - Qualified social workers/social 
welfare and development workers appointed as such shall automatically become 
members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for those employed in the 
government and of the Social Security System (SSS) for those employed in the private 
sector. Social workers/social welfare and development worker, having fulfilled the age 
and service requirement of applicable retirement laws, shall be given a one-step salary 
grade increase upon retirement which shall be the basis of computation of retirement pay 
and other retirement benefits. 
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Sec. 14. 
Coordinating Committee. - A Coordinating Committee is hereby 
created. 
It shall be composed of, but not limited to, the heads of the following 
agencies/organizations or their duly authorized representatives: Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
Board for Social Workers, Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI), 
Association of ProvincialKity and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer of 
the Phils. Inc. (APCMSWDOPI), National Association of Social Work Education, Inc. 
(NASWEI), National Council for Social Development Foundation, Inc. (NCSDFI), 
League of Provinces, League of Cities, League of Municipalities, Liga ng mga Barangay, 
House of Representatives and Senate. 
The DSWD shall chair the Committee and 
provide the necessary secretariat support. 
Sec. 15. 
Functions of the Coordinating Committee. 
- The Coordinating 
Committee shall have the following functions: 
Promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act; 
Promulgate a Code of Conduct for social workers/social welfare and 
development workers within six (6) months from the effectivity of this 
Act; 
Evaluate social worldsocial welfare and development worker positions and 
compensation and benefits; 
Receive and evaluate complaints and forward the same to the concerned 
agency; 
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Monitor compliance with the provisions of this Act and its implementing 
rules and regulations; 
Submit their recommendations to the agencies concerned; and 
Submit an annual report to Congress. 


The government agencies concerned shall allocate funds from their respective 
annual budget for this purpose. 
Sec. 16. Prohibition Against Elimination and/or Diminution. - Nothing in this 
Act shall be construed to eliminate or in any way diminish benefits being enjoyed by 
social worker/social welfare and development workers at the time of the effectivity of 
this Act. 
Sec. 17. Penal Provision. - Any person who shall willfully interfere with, 
restrain or coerce any social worker/social welfare and development worker in the 
exercise of hidher rights or shall violate any provision of this Act shall, upon conviction, 
be punished by a fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,O.OO.OO) but not more 
than Forty Thousand Pesos (P40,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of one (1) year to six (6) years 
or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
If the offender is a public official, the court may impose the additional penalty of 
disqualification from office in addition to the penalties provided in the preceding 
paragraph. 
If the offender is a private institution, it shall be subject to a penalty ranging from 
suspension to revocation of license at the discretion of the court. Provided, However, 
That responsible officers shall be fined not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,OOO.OO) 
but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of six 
(6) years and one (I) day to twelve (12) years or both at the discretion of the court. 
Sec. 18. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 
force and effect. 
Sec. 19. Repealing Clause. - 
All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended 
or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 20. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5 )  days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, 
whichever comes first. 
Approved, 
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