Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 5416)
The short title of Republic Act No. 5416 is the Social Welfare Act of 1968.
It is the responsibility of the government to provide a comprehensive program of social welfare services designed to ameliorate the living conditions of distressed Filipinos, especially those handicapped by poverty, youth, physical and mental disability, illness, old age, victims of natural calamities, and members of cultural minorities to facilitate their integration into the body politic.
The Act creates the Department of Social Welfare.
The Department shall develop and implement preventive and remedial programs and services for individuals, families, and communities; protective, remedial, and developmental welfare services for children and youth; vocational rehabilitation and related services for the physically handicapped, ex-convicts and individuals with special needs; and training, research, and special projects.
Among others, the Department has the power to develop and administer social welfare service programs, set standards to ensure effective implementation, conduct research, accredit social welfare institutions, license public solicitations for charitable purposes, provide training and consultative services, disseminate information, establish branches, coordinate social welfare efforts, maintain child caring facilities, and enact necessary rules and regulations.
The Secretary must have demonstrated interest in social welfare and a working knowledge of public administration. The Undersecretary for Program must have a master's degree in social work, be duly registered as a social worker, and have at least seven years of experience in social service administration. The Undersecretary for Operation and Administration must have a working knowledge of public administration or social work and at least seven years experience in social welfare administration.
The Undersecretary for Program shall formulate the department's service programs based on priority needs and resource availability, recommend social welfare measures to the Secretary, establish program standards and procedures, supervise technical operations of bureaus, and perform related delegated duties.
The Undersecretary for Operation and Administration shall recommend matters on operations and administration to the Secretary, formulate administrative standards and procedures, provide consultative and technical services in legal and administrative matters, implement field programs and special projects, conduct research and publish social work literature, and perform related delegated duties.
The bureaus are the Bureau of Family Welfare, Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Field Services, and Bureau of Training, Research and Special Projects.
It formulates, administers, develops, and implements social welfare services to promote social adjustment of families, prevent family disorganization, and foster social consciousness and civic responsibility including family life education, family welfare centers, youth centers, income-producing projects, and employment services for handicapped adults and youth.
It formulates and implements programs for the care, protection, training, and rehabilitation of children and youth, especially the abused, abandoned, neglected, handicapped, and delinquent, with emphasis on making them economically productive.
It administers vocational rehabilitation and related services to disabled and physically handicapped persons, ex-convicts, and individuals with special needs, including social adjustment, medical services, vocational training, placement, employment exchange, and sheltered workshop operations.
The Department is authorized to receive grants, bequests, donations, and trust funds for social welfare purposes. Such funds are exempt from taxes.
It is a fund established by the Department where all income from social welfare projects accrues and is used exclusively for the projects of the concerned bureaus.
The Social Welfare Administration is abolished, and all its personnel, records, supplies, equipment, and appropriations are transferred to the Department of Social Welfare without loss of employment or reduction of salary or rank for existing officials and employees.
Not more than fifteen percent (15%) of the appropriated funds may be used for personnel services.
Yes, the Department can establish regional, provincial, city, and municipal branches and field offices and supervise them as necessary.
The Act takes effect upon approval.