by L. Lopez

Tabuk City, Kalinga (21 July) -- Social workers employed with the provincial and municipal governments in the province are lobbying for additional benefits mandated under RA 94331 or the Magna Carta for Public Social Workers in the country.

The group of public social workers is asking for a P50/day subsistence allowance plus hazard pay, which is computed at 20% of their monthly rate.

Judith Puday of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), who is representing the group, said they have initially presented their position in the Provincial Executives July monthly meeting.

This move came about following the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Magna Carta in November last year, Puday said.

But the group understands that local government units are already at the mid-year of their budgetary period, that is why members have considered presenting their cause before the Local Finance Committees (LFC) for proper fund allocation.

Since the approval of the IRR last year, other local government units have already released additional mandated benefits to public social workers, Puday said.

The Magna Carta for Public Social Workers mandates the state to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of public social workers to make them more responsive to the needs of their clients.