Senator reintroduces Magna Carta for poor

Vetoed by PNoy, bill seeks to protect basic rights of every Filipino Under the bill, some government agencies are assigned to provide opportunities for poor to enjoy five basic rights — the right to food, employment, education, shelter, and basic health c

SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino III has reintroduced the “Magna Carta of the Poor Act” that his cousin, President Benigno C. Aquino III, vetoed last 15th Congress for being “unrealistic.”

Senate Bill 2370 aims to ensure the protection of five basic rights of every Filipino: the right to food, employment, education, shelter, and basic health care.

Aquino, who chairs the Senate committee on trade, commerce, and entrepreneurship, is confident that the measure would be enacted into law.

“The bill is now fine-tuned to make the country’s strong economic growth felt by all of one hundred million Filipinos,” Aquino said.

Under the bill, some concerned government agencies are assigned to provide opportunities for the poor to enjoy the five basic rights, which are essential requirements towards poverty alleviation.

The Departments of Social Welfare and Agriculture will be tasked to provide adequate food for the poor while the Department of Labor and Employment will accommodate them for a decent work.

Moreover, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (Ched), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will promote quality education.

Housing will be allocated by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), the bill stated.

Monitoring

To ensure highest attainable standard of mental and physical health, the Department of Health (DOH) will be assigned to monitor the poor’s condition.

As the economic performance of the country has been impressive and unprecedented, Senator Aquino urged that all Filipinos should also be prioritized by the government.

“Our 7.2 percent GDP growth in 2013 was the highest in the Asean earning the country improved investment grade ratings,” said the senator.

Senator Aquino said that millions of Filipinos are jobless and a fifth of the populace remains poor despite the country’s economic growth.

“The daunting task for the State is how to capitalize on its outstanding growth, the critically acclaimed reform efforts and the renewed global confidence, in order to make growth more inclusive and felt by all of the one hundred million Filipinos,” the senator said.

Senator Aquino said the proposed measures would provide all Filipinos the opportunities for growth and development that they deserve.

“It supports the creation of a just and dynamic environment where prosperity is shared through the provision of adequate social services, enabling a rising standard of living and improved quality of life for everyone,” he said.

“As the Philippine grows, no Filipino should be left behind,” Aquino added. (Ruth Abbey Gita/Sunnex)