Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
+   ..,   +
HOUSE BILL NO.
.,;.   I.      "
..-..,       `',,
Introduced by: REP. RUTH MARIANO-HERNANDEZ
AN ACT INCREASING THE COMPENSATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN GOVERNMENT
SERVICE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9433, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE "MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SOCIAL WORKERS"
EXPLANATORY N OTE
The   Department  of  Social   Welfare   and   Development   (DSWD),   being  the   primary
government  agency  decreed  to  develop,  implement  and  coordinate  social  protection
and poverty-reduction solutions, should always be at a fortified position to enable it, at
all times, to pursue its mandates. Complementary to this, a sufficient number of public
social workers are essential to fully and effectively implement the various social safety
nets  of the  government  across  the  country.  Unfortunately,  DSWD  has  to  endure  its
limited  manpower  resources,  including  social  workers,  with  only  a  little  over  6,700
social workers in government service.
The author, through this bill, seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9433, otherwise known
as the  Magna  Carta  for  Public  Social  Workers,  for the  following imperative  purposes,
among others:
a)   To  recognize  the  important  role  of  public  social  workers  in  the  nation's
development  effort through  an  increase  in  the  salary  grade  of  entry-level
position to SG 13;
b)   To  expand  the  definition  of public  social  workers  to  include  all  registered
social   workers   in   government   service   regardless   of  position   title   and
employment status;
c)   In  recognition  of their  contribution  to  nation  building  and  the  risks  social
workers face in the performance of their duties and functions, to provide and
expand   their   compensation   package   and   other   benefits   regardless  `of
employment status.


With  the  country  gearing  towards  recovery  from  the  economic  scars  of  the  health
pandemic,  public  social  workers  are  more  than  ever  needed  as  partners  of  social
transformation and development.
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
-  -.'  ^.  ''`
HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by: REP. RUTH MARIANO-HERNANDEZ
AN ACT
INCREASING THE COMPENSATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN GOVERNMENT
SERVICE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9433,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SOCIAL WORKERS"
Be it e|t.ac_ted by t:he Senate cnd. the Ho:use Of Representatives Of the Philippines in Congress
assembled..
SECTION  1.   Section  3  of Republic Act No.  9433,  otherwise  known  as the  "Magna  Carta for
Public Social Workers", is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act, the following shall mean as follows:
"(a) `Social Work' x x x
"(b) `Registered Social Worker' x x x
"(c) `PUBLIC SOCIAL WORKER' - REFERS T0 REGISTERED SOCIAI,
wORKERs   LlcENSED   By   THE   pROFrssloNAL   REGUIATION
COMMISSION (PRC), REGARD LESS OF POSITION TITLE AND JOB
STATUS, WORKING IN THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING NATIONAL
GovERNMENT  AGENclFs   (NGAs),   STATE   uNlvERslTlrs   AND
COLLEGES (SUCS), AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUS)."
"(d)   `soclAL  WORK   pRACTlcE'-   REFERs   TO   pROFrssloNAL
APPROACHES  CRITICAL  TO  THE  EFFECTIVE  PERFORMANCE  OF
THE    PREVENTIVE,    REIIABILITATIVE,   AND    DEVELOPMENTAI.
FUNc'ITONs OF THE soclAL WORK pROFrssloN. THE DIFFERENT
soclAL WORK pRACTlcEs ARE as FOLLOws:
(1) DIRECT PRACTICE IS i/VIIEN A SOCIAL WORKER WORKS
DIRECTLY WITH  AN  INDIVIDUAL,  FAMILY,  OR  GROUP
OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE USE 0F BASIC SOCIAL WORK
METHODS   SUCH  AS  SOCIAL  WORK  PRACTICE  l^rlTH
INDIVIDUAIS       AND       FAMILIES,       GROUPS,       AND
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES ;
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(2)    INDIRECT    SOCIAL    WORK    PRACTICE    OR    MACRO
PRACTICE     SOCIAL WORK IS W.IIEN THE SOCIAL WORKER
IS         INVOLVED     IN    ACTIVITIES     TIIAT    CONSIST     OF
FACILITATING     CHANGE     THROUGH     PROGRAMS     AND
POLICIES.    THE    SOCIAL    WORKER'S     FUNCTIONS    ARE
ADMINISTRATION     AND     MANAGEMENT,     POLICY    AND
PROGRAM   DEVELOpMENT,    RlrsEARCH,   AND   cAPAclTy
BUILDING. THIS TYPE OF PRACTICE REQUIRES THE USE OF
spEclFlc   KNOwLEDGE  AND   sKILrs   IN   soclAL  WORK
PHILOSOPHY,  AND  FUNCTIONS,  AND  IIAS  THE  PRIMARY
FOCUS   ON   THE   HELPING   PROCESS   IN   DETERMINING
OuTcOMrs FOR THE pOpuIATION BEING SHRVED; AND
(3)   GENERALIST   SOCIAL   WORK   PRACTICE   REFERS   T0
SOCIAL WORK  PRACTITIONERS  WII0  SEEK  TO  ENIIANCE
THE   WELL-BEING   0F   CLIENT  SYSTEMS   OF   ALL   SIZES,
INCLUDING         INDlvlDUAI.s,         FAMILlrs,         GRoups ,
ORGANIZATIONS,  AND  COMMUNITIES,  IN  A  VARIETY  0F
SETTINGS,   ACKNowLEDGING   THE   n`ITERCoNNECTlvlTy
AND INTERDEPENDENCE 0F THESE SYSTEMS. GENERALIST
SOCIAL  WORKERS  PROMOTE  SOCIAL  JUSTICE  WITH  AN
EMPHASIS     0N     AN`     APPRECIATION     FOR     DIVERSITY,
CULTURAL  RlrspoNslvENrss,  ELIMINATION  OF  sysTEMs
OF   OPPRESSION,   AND   THE   REALIZATION   OF   HUMAN
RIGHrs AND soclAL, EcONOMlc, AND pOLITlcAL TusTlcE,
AT THE MICRO, MEZZO, AND MACRO LEVEI.S.
"(e)        xxx
SECTION 2.  Section 4 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC.   4.   Coverage.   +--  This  Act  shall   cover  all   registered  social  workers   in
GOvERI`"mIT SETHNG, wllETHER REGULAR oR cAsuAL, AND
INCLUDING THOSE WIIOSE SERVICES ARE ENGAGED THROUGH
JOB ORDERS 0R CONTRACTS OF SERVICE."
SECTION 3. Section 12 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC.  12.  COMPENSATION .---  APPLICABLE  IjAWS,  RULES,  AND
REGulATloNS oN SAI.ART ScALEs oF GoVERNMEr`IT EMPLo¥Ers
SHALL   AppLy   IN   DETERMINING   THE   sAIARIrs   oF   PUBI.Ic
SOCIAL  WORKERS;  PROVIDED,  THAT  THE  SA~Y  GRADE  0F
ENTRY-LEVEL JUNIOR OFFICER PUBLIC SOCIAI. WORKERS S~L
BE AT  LEAST sALARy GRADE  13;  pROvzz]ED,  HormvER,  THAT
NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO ELIMINATE OR
IN  ANY WAY  DIMINISH  BENEFITS  BEING  ENJOYED  BY  PUBLIC
SOCIAL WORKERS AT THE TIME   0F THE  EFFECTIVITY OF THIS
ACT;  PROVIDED,  FunTHER,  TIIAT  IN  CASE  OF vloIATIONs  OF
THIS  PROVISION,  THE  PUBIjlc  SOCIAL  WORICER  CONCEENED
SHALL FILE THE NECESSARY COMPIAINT TO THE CSC OR NLRC,
THROUGH       THE       SOCIAL       WORK       MANAGEM]INT       AND
coNsuLTATlvE  cOuNclL;  PROTHDED,  srT:LL  FURmER,   THAT
THERE  SHALL  BE  STRICT  COMPLIANCE  OF  EMPLOYERS  FROM
NGAS, SUCS, AND LGUS ON THE EQUITABLE COMPIINSATION 0F
Rsws;  PROTTDE,  FmIALLy,  TIIAT  LocAL  GOvERNMENT  uNITs
WHICH DO NOT IIAVE ADEQUATE OR SUFFICIENT FUNDS SIIALL
ONLY PARTIALLY IMPLEMENT THE ESTABLISHED RATE AS MAY
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BE   APPROVED   BY   THE   SOCIAL   WORK   MANAGEMENT   AND
CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL. "
SECTION 4.  Section 15 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 15. Other Beneflts .--- Aside from the beneflts received as required
under existing laws and executive orders, public social workers
shall receive the following:
"Hazard Allowance - Public social workers and public social welfare and
development  workers  assigned  in  remote  and  depressed  areas,  strife-torn  or
embattled  areas,  distressed  or  isolated  stations,  mental  hospitals,  1eprosaria,
areas declared under a state of calamity or emergency which expose them to great
danger,  volcanic  activity/eruption,  occupational  risks  or threats to  life  shall  be
compensated  with  hazard  allowance  equivalent  to  at  least  twenty  per  centum
(2o%)    of   the    monthly   basic    salary;    PROVIDED,    TIIAT    IIAZARD
PAY/ALLOWANCE SIIALL AI.SO BE AVAII.ABLE TO AI.L RSWS WHO
DlspENSE  sERVIclrs  OuTslDE  OF  THEIR  usuAL  wORKplACE
REGARDLlrss OF THE NATURE OF ACTlvlTy cONDucTED.
XXX
"(I)    Mental    Health/Self-Care   Leave.    -An    additional   of   twenty-four   (24)
leave   day  credits   shall  be   added  on  top   of  the  existing  annual  leave/sick
benefits  of  public  social  workers  intended  for  their  well-being  and  self-care.
Unused  credits  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  each  calendar  year  .Ptot;ic!ed,  That
additional   leave   benefits   may   be   given   to   public   social   workers   who   are
dealing with mental health concerns as a result of their exposure to
vicarious trauma."
XXX
SECTION 5.  Section 21 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 21. Human Resource Department. -The DSWD shall conduct a  periodic
human resource development and management study in the following areas:
`in
(G) pRIORITlzATION OF Rsws IN DswD vACANclEs rspECIALLy
FOR   PROGRAMS   REQUIRING   CASE   MANAGEMENT,   E.G.   4PS,
cENTERs     AND     REslDENTIAL     CARE     FAclLITlrs     (CRCF),
ASSISTANCE  T0   INDIVIDUAI.S   IN   CRISIS   SITUATIONS   (AICS),
AMONG OTHERS.
(H)    RECOMMEND    TO    DBM    AND    CSC    THE    CREATION    0F
ADDIHONAL PIANTILIA POSITIONS FOR RSWS.
SECTION 6.  `The  Department  of Budget and Management  (DBM),  in  consultation with the
Social  Work  Management  and  Consultative  Council,  shall,  within  ninety  (9o)  days  after  the
approval  of this Act,  modify the Index of Occupational Services,  Occupational  Groups,  Classes
and Salary Grade to adjust the salary grades of public social workers in accordance with Section 3
hereof."
SECTION 7. Appropriations.  "The amount necessary for the initial implementation of the
amendments to this Act shall be taken  from the  current  appropriations  and thereafter,  funds
needed in subsequent years shall be included in the General Appropriations Act."
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SECTION 8. "Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (9o) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DSWD as the lead agency, together with the appropriate national
government agencies shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary to carry
out the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act shall be held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions hereof that are not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.
SECTION  lo.  Repealing Clause. All  other laws,  acts,  decrees,  executive  orders,  issuances,
and rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are contrary or inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SECTION 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the Ojffc[.ciz GCLzerte
or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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