SEN. Loren Legarda yesterday called on the government to regularize thousands of social workers, especially those who are still serving as job order or contract-of-service personnel under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units.
Legarda said the country’s social workers play an important role “in times of need,” and it is only fitting that they become regular employees so they can also receive regular salaries and benefits.
“Social workers are not just indispensable, they are irreplaceable. In times of need, they are the first to respond and the last to leave. Their service is not quiet — it is courageous, visible, and deeply transformative,” Legarda said.
She said she knows how social workers work as they sustain the delivery of medical aid, provide educational support, burial and food assistance, psychosocial services, and emergency financial help.
“It is time to regularize our social workers, especially those in the DSWD, rightfully called ‘Angels in Red Vests,’ as well as those in our local governments who are still serving as job order or contract-of-service personnel. How can we expect sustained care from those who themselves lack job security? This is not just a labor issue, it is a moral one,” she added.
Legarda underscored the urgency of investing in the welfare of social workers, who are often deployed in the harshest conditions and most emotionally demanding environments.
“As we honor their work, let us match our praises with policy. Social workers should not just be applauded, they should be protected, supported, and empowered,” she said.
Legarda said her office employs a licensed social worker, whose presence has significantly strengthened their outreach and social protection programs.
“Having a social worker on our team is one of the best decisions we’ve made. Her empathy, technical expertise, and deep understanding of human vulnerability have elevated the way we serve our people,” she said.
