Lapid wants P30K entry-level pay for public social workers

(FILE) An indigent patient admitted to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City receives cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Ilocos region. Health workers in the hospital also received cash aid from the DSWD. PHOTO FROM DSWD

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid is proposing to increase the monthly salary of public social workers to almost P30,000.

Lapid has filed a bill that seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9433 or the “Magna Carta for Public Social Workers.”

Under his proposal, the salary grade of entry-level junior officer public social workers will be at least Salary Grade 13 or P29,798 per month.

At present, a Social Welfare Officer I is ranked Salary Grade 11 or gets P25,439 in monthly salary.

“Napakarami ng responsibilidad na ginagampanan ng mga social worker dito sa ating bansa. Kahit sa gitna ng pandemya, matiyaga silang nagtatrabaho para makapaghatid serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan kasama na riyan ang pamimigay ng relief goods sa mga tinamaan ng kalamidad. Ang mga social workers din ang nagbibigay ng suporta at gabay sa mga bata, kababaihan at mga pamilya na biktima ng pang-aabuso,” Lapid noted in a statement on Thursday.

(Social workers in our country have many responsibilities. Even in the middle of the pandemic, they are diligently working to provide services to our fellow citizens such as distributing relief goods to those affected by calamities. Our social workers also give support and guidance to children, women, and abused families.)

“Kasama rin sa trabaho nila ang pagtuturo sa mga bata sa mga day care centers at pagtulong sa out-of-school youths at OFWs (overseas Filipino workers). Sa dami ng kanilang responsibilidad, marapat lamang na bigyan sila ng tamang pagkilala at malaking tulong sana sa kanila at kani-kanilang pamilya kung mabibigyan sila ng mas mataas na sweldo para may sapat silang panggastos at pambili ng kanilang pangangailangan,” he added.

(Their job includes teaching kids in daycare centers and helping out-of-school youths and OFWs. With their many responsibilities, it is right to give them recognition and it would be a big help to them and their families if they would be provided with a high salary to have enough budget to buy their necessities.)

Lapid’s bill also pushes to amend the definition of “public social worker” to include not only those performing social work functions but all positions in the government that require registered/licensed social workers.

He also added that benefits should not decrease with the proposed increase in their compensations.

“Sa ilalim ng aking isinusulong na panukalang batas, bagamat hinihiling kong taasan ang pasahod sa mga social workers, dapat manatili pa rin at hindi mabawasan ang lahat ng benepisyong ibinibigay ng gobyerno ngayon sa mga public social workers,” he said.

(Under my proposed measure, while I ask to increase the compensation of social workers, their benefits should remain and not be decreased.)

“Dapat lamang na manatili ang mga benepisyong ito lalo’t sa gitna ng pandemya sila ay nahaharap sa matinding hamon bilang mga frontliners,” continued Lapid.

(It should remain especially amid the pandemic, they are facing a big challenge as frontliners.)

Local government units which do not have sufficient funds will only partially implement the established rate as may be approved by the social work management and consultative council, the bill said.

The Department of Budget and Management, in consultation with the Social Work Management and Consultative Council, will modify the Index of Occupational Services, Occupational Groups, Classes, and Salary Grades within 90 days after approval of the measure.

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