An increase in the compensation for social workers is being eyed by the House Committee on Social Services.
In a House hearing held inside the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) premises, the house panel tackled several house bills amending the Magna Carta for Public Social Workers.
The bills push for the increase of entry level salaries for social workers from salary grade 13 to salary grade 15.
Under the bills, they also provide the municipal social welfare position to be headed by a licensed social worker, and should be a plantilla position.
Under the current system, only the provincial and the city social work and development head should be accredited social workers.
"This primary, landmark legislation will surely attract young people to our fold in social work," said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
"We humbly enjoin the committee to take care of social workers with appropriate legislation," he added.
The DSWD is also pushing for the institutionalization of their flagship 'Walang Gutom' program.
The Walang Gutom program provides food stamps to low income households, aimed at curbing hunger incidence in the country.
Under this system, P3000 worth of food credits can be used to buy nutritious food during specific food claiming days.
"This is already fully funded until 2028. What we want is to institutionalize it," Gatchalian told the panel.
"This is already backed by an EO, but EO's come and go. May funding, may line item, wala lang siyang legislation," he added.
Gatchalian likened the institutionalization of the program to the legislation of the 4Ps, which withstood several administrations.
