QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 5175)
RA 5175 amends Section 1(a) of RA 4373 by restating that social work is the profession primarily concerned with organized social service activity aimed to facilitate and strengthen basic social relationships and mutual adjustment between individuals and their social environment for the good of the individual and of society using social work methods.
The applicant must possess a Master’s Degree in Social Work (M.S.S.W., M.S.S., M.A.S.W., or its equivalent) conferred by a reputable government-recognized school, college, or university and also by a duly accredited school, college, or university abroad.
Unless exempt from registration, no person may practice or offer to practice social work in the Philippines or be appointed to a position calling for social worker in any social worker agency (private or government) without holding a valid certificate of registration as a social worker issued by the Board of Examiners for Social Workers.
Registration is not required of recognized social workers or authorities on social work who are residents and/or citizens of other countries and are called in for consultations in any agency working with the United Nations and/or similar international social agencies.
No. The amendment states that no provision shall be construed to prejudice permanently appointed social workers employed in private or government social work agencies at the date of approval of the Act; they continue to enjoy rights to promotion and salary increases, retirement benefits, and other previously acquired rights.
Those who, at the effectivity of RA 5175, possess the qualifications enumerated in Section 12 and are actually engaged in the practice of social work for five years in a recognized social work agency by specified welfare councils/agencies may be exempted from taking the examination if they register as social workers within one year after approval of the Act.
Those holding regular appointment in government service on a provisional status for lack of educational qualifications for the board exam, who have rendered five years or more of continuous and satisfactory service in social work, may retain their positions to qualify as registered social workers within a period of ten years but not later than December 31, 1978.
Any person who, at the effectivity of RA 5175, possesses the qualifications enumerated in Section 12 except the one specified in Section 2(d) (as referenced in the amendatory text) and who has openly performed the functions/practiced as a social worker as defined in the Act for at least a total of ten years prior to effectivity may continue performing such functions in the same office/agency until retirement without examination for registration, provided an affidavit or Civil Service certification is filed with the Board.
Applicants must establish to the satisfaction of the Board that they (a) are Filipino citizens; (b) are at least 21 years old; (c) are in good health and of good moral character; (d) have received a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree diploma (or equivalent) in social work from an accredited and legally constituted institution (with an RA 2260 proviso for cultural minorities); and (e) completed at least 1,000 case hours of practical training in an established social work agency under direct supervision of a fully trained and qualified social worker.
It sets the minimum practical training requirement for applicants: at least 1,000 case hours of practical training in an established social work agency under the direct supervision of a fully trained and qualified social worker.
It provides that the provisions of RA 2260, insofar as cultural minorities are concerned, be applied in relation to the requirement in Section 12(d) on the educational diploma for the social work examination.
Under the general rule, they are not allowed to practice or offer to practice social work and/or be appointed to social worker positions without a valid certificate of registration—registration is required unless the person falls under an exemption described in Section 10.
RA 5175 repeals subparagraph (h) of Section 26 and redesignates subparagraph (i) as subparagraph (h).
It takes effect upon its approval (which was August 4, 1967, per the approval clause).
If they possess the qualifications enumerated in Section 12 and are actually engaged in practice of social work for five years in a recognized agency, they may register within one year after approval and be exempted from taking the examination.