Senator Christopher “Bong” Go (File photo)
MANILA -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for declaring June 19 of every year as Filipino Social Workers’ Day to recognize the indispensable role of social workers and their invaluable contribution to nation-building particularly in promoting the welfare of poor and vulnerable sectors.
“Sinusuportahan at kinokomendahan ko ang deklarasyon ng June 19 bilang Filipino Social Workers’ Day upang magsilbing paalala sa lahat ng mga Pilipino sa serbisyo na iginagawad sa lipunan ng ating mga magigiting at masisipag na social workers (I'm supporting and commending the declaration of June 19 as Filipino Social Workers' Day to serve as a reminder to all Filipinos of their service rendered in society by our gallant and hardworking social workers),” Go said in media release on Saturday.
“Sa gitna ng pandemya, hindi po tumigil ang ating social workers na magtrabaho upang gampanan ang kanilang tungkulin sa kanilang mga kababayan. Napakaliit na bagay po nito kumpara sa mga sakripisyo nila, lalu na sa gitna ng kasalukuyang pandemya (Amid the pandemic, our social workers continuously work to do their responsibilities to their countrymen. This is only meager compared to their sacrifices, especially amid the pandemic),” he added.
Go also thanked social workers for ensuring that public services reach Filipinos in poor and far-flung communities.
He particularly recognized those who are assisting in catering to the needs of patients and beneficiaries in the 125 Malasakit Centers established nationwide.
"May mga social workers at personnel na nasa mga Malasakit Centers para tumulong sa ating mga kababayan. Kung hindi po dahil sa kanila, hindi magiging buo at makararating sa ating mga kababayan ang serbisyo galing sa mga center na ito (There are social workers and personnel in Malasakit Centers to help our countrymen. If not for them, our countrymen would get the assistance from these centers)," Go said.
Signed on June 25, Proclamation No. 1176 mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development to “lead, coordinate and supervise the nationwide observance of the Filipino Social Workers' Day.”
It also encourages all other agencies and instrumentalities of the national government to “actively participate and render the necessary support and assistance to the DSWD for the effective implementation of this Proclamation.”
The proclamation is rooted on Section 9, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which declares it a policy of the State to “promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation, and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services”.
It added that there is a need “to raise awareness of the unwavering commitment, dedication and altruism of Filipino social workers, and their significant role in the reduction of various socioeconomic vulnerabilities of individuals, families and communities in the country.”
To promote the rights and welfare of social workers during the pandemic, Go, in March last year, expressed his support to grant hazard pay to government personnel, including public sector social workers, who physically report for work during the period of community quarantine relative to the Covid-19 situation.
President Duterte eventually issued Administrative Order No. 43 which granted hazard pay to government personnel.
“The government workers who still go to work during this time put their lives at risk, so they deserve proper compensation. The service that they are giving to the Filipino people is priceless. Granting them hazard pay is the least that we can do for them,” he said. (PR)
