BENGUET Representative Nestor Fongwan Sr. has filed a bill in Congress amending provision of Local Government Code of 1991 creating a mandatory position for social welfare and development officer in all local government units in the country.
Fongwan Sr. under proposed House Bill 4467 wants to amend section 483 of the Republic Act 7160 particularly providing the position of an MSWD officer.
The lawmaker highlighted the importance of social welfare development officer in the municipal level.
“Faced with social deviations, poverty, care of our elderly, the needy and the differently abled members of society, municipal government are left with no other choice but to recognize and consider this position very important functionary in the municipal social welfare and development office,” the bill adds.
Aside from social problems, Fongwan Sr. stated municipal governments suffer much from the effects of typhoons that ravage the country every year.
“Proven over decades of experience in the municipal level, every time natural calamities or disaster struck, it is always the social welfare and development officer that serves as the frontline in coordinating relief assistance and other appropriate crisis intervention actions to victims of calamities in the community,” he said.
The solon added the powers and duties attached to local social development officer cuts across a wide terrain of needed social services geared towards the protection of the underprivileged and improvement of the living conditions of the people.
The proposed bill is pending with the committee on local government.
The Provincial Board of Benguet earlier supported the move of the lone district representative through a resolution manifesting their support with the approved resolution forwarded to House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano.