Longevity Pay — A monthly longevity pay equivalent to five per centum (5%) of his/her latest monthly basic pay shall be paid to a public social worker for every five years of continuous, efficient and meritorious service rendered as certified by the chief of office concerned, commencing with the service after approval of this Act. Clothing Allowance — All public social workers shall be entitled to a minimum of One thousand five hundred pesos (P1,500.00) clothing allowance annually, which amount shall be adjusted as needed. SEC. 16. Compensation From Injuries. — Public social workers shall be protected against work-related injuries in accordance with the Labor Code and Civil Service Law, as the case may be. Injuries incurred while doing overtime work shall be presumed work-connected. SEC. 17. Rights of a Public Social Worker.— Public social workers shall have the following rights: Protection from discrimination by reason of sex, sexual orientation, age, political or religious beliefs, civil status, physical characteristics/disability, or ethnicity; Protection from any form of interference, intimidation, harassment, or punishment, to include, but not limited to, arbitrary reassignment or termination of service, in the performance of his/her duties and responsibilities; Join, organize, or assist organizations or unions for lawful purposes; Protection from any act that will prevent his/her from applying professional interventions that the client’s situation may require; and Opportunities for continuing professional growth and development. SEC. 18. Reassignment of Public Social Workers.—Except in the interest of public service, no transfer or geographical reassignment shall be made or effected without written notice to a public social worker: Provided, That said written notice, stating the reasons for the reassignment, shall be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of transfer or reassignment: Provided, further, That, if the public social worker believes that there is no justification for the transfer and/or reassignment, he/she may appeal his/her case to the CSC, which shall cause his/her transfer and/or reassignment to be held in abeyance: Provided, furthermore, That reassignment coinciding with any local or national election shall be made in compliance with Election Code and other existing laws and rules: Provided, finally, That the necessary expenses of the transfer and/or reassignment of the public social worker and his/her immediate family shall be paid for by the agency concerned. SEC. 19. Married Public Social Workers.— Whenever possible, the proper authorities shall take steps to enable married couples, both of whom are public social workers, to be employed or assigned in the same municipality, but not in the same office: Provided, That it shall not apply to married public social workers already assigned in the same office at the time this law takes effect. SEC. 20. Freedom from Interference or Coercion. — It shall be unlawful for any person to commit any of the following acts of interference or coercion: To intimidate or force a public social worker to submit valuable documents that will violate the principles of confidentiality of records agreed upon between him/her and the clientele groups: Provided, That the release of such documents shall be approved by the clients concerned and shall redound to their social well-being, and upon court order; To prevent a public social worker from upholding and applying the basic social work principles in carrying out the programs and services for the target client groups of the social work agency; To intimidate in order to encourage or discourage membership in any social work organization or union; To prevent a public social worker from carrying out his/her duties and functions in the social work organization or union or to penalize the public social worker for any lawful action performed in that capacity; VTo make calculated harassment and interference with the intention of intimidating or preventing the public social worker from performing his duties and functions; To make calculated harassment against, or, to transfer, penalize or terminate the services of a public social worker who is carrying out his/her advocacy function role for and in behalf of his/her clientele groups who are victims of social injustice. SEC. 21. Human Resource Development. —The DSWD shall conduct a periodic human resource development and management study in the following areas: Adequate facilities and resources to render quality social service to their clientele;