MANILA, Philippines- Upang dumami ang welfare workers sa bansa, isang panukala ang inihain sa Kamara ni Laguna Rep. Ruth Hernandez na nagsusulong na magbukas ang pamahalaan ng government scholarship program para makapanghikayat ng mga estudyante na maging professional welfare workers.
Sa inihaing House Bill 6910 o Act Establishing a Social Work Scholarship Program (SWSP) for Deserving Students, sinabi ni Hernandez na matutugunan nito ang kakulangan ng social worker sa bansa.
Ang social workers ang siyang katuwang ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), na batay sa datos ay nasa 6,796 lamang ang registered social workers sa bansa at nasa 2,010 ang bakanteng posisyon.
“The vacant positions include Social Welfare Officer, Social Worker, Social Welfare and Development Officer, Provincial/City/Municipal Social Welfare Officer; and for non-licensed Social Workers: Social Welfare Assistant, and Social Welfare Aide, in national government agencies and local government units” ayon kay Hernandez.
Sinabi ng lady solon na kung maisasabatas ang SWSP ay isa itong long term solution para matiyak na may sapat na workforce ang DSWD sa pagtupad nito ng tungkulin.
Sa ilalim ng programa, ang mga kwalipikadong estudyante ay bibigyan ng financial assistance sa kanilang pa- aaral kasama ang libreng tuition fee, miscellaneous, iba pang school fees; pambili ng libro, supplies and equipment; clothing o uniform allowance; allowance para sa dormitory o boarding house accommodation; transportation allowance; on the job training fees; Social Work licensure examination review fees; Social Work License fees; annual medical insurance; at iba pang education-related subsistence o living allowances.
“To qualify, student applicants should pass the entrance examination and comply with other related requirements for admission into a Social Work Degree program in a public or private higher education institution, as would be required by the Commission on Higher Education and DSWD,” nakasaad pa sa panukala.
“Scholars in this proposed program “must be full-time students, shall not incur grades below 80 percent, take the board examination within one year after graduation, and render return of service in the social welfare positions in their home provinces,” pagtatapos ni Hernandez. Gail Mendoza
