Republic Act No. 6734/Article XVI

by Congress of the Philippines

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Article XVI

SOCIAL JUSTICE, SERVICES, INSTITUTIONS, AND OTHER CONCERNS

Section 1. The promotion of social justice shall include the commitment to create social, political and economic opportunities based on freedom of initiative, resourcefulness and self-reliance.

Sec. 2. (1) The Regional Assembly shall, consistent with the provisions of the Constitution and national policies, enact measures to provide and expand health and welfare services.

(2) The Regional Government shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system. It shall encourage the national use of drugs through an essential drugs list and the use of generic medicines or drugs, as well as promote the use of herbal medicines and indigenous health resources, whenever appropriate.

(3) The Regional Assembly shall enact further legislation on the following:

(a) Child health and development, including the support of the handicapped and other disadvantaged persons in need of welfare services;

(b) Condition of women and status of indigenous population;

(c) Registration of births, marriages and deaths; and

(d) Fixing of regional public holidays.

Sec. 3. The Regional Government, in cooperation with the private sector, shall evolve its own housing program that will provide adequate, low-cost, and decent housing facilities and other basic services to the residents of the Region, especially the underprivileged.

Sec. 4. The Regional Assembly shall within one (1) year from its organization enact measures embodying reintegration programs responsive to the needs of returnees and rejoinees. A rehabilitation program shall be provided for displaced persons or communities and victims of manmade or natural calamities.

Sec. 5. The Regional Government recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. It shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development.

Sec. 6. The Regional Government recognizes the role of women in nation-building and regional development. It shall promote their well-being and ensure their fundamental rights and equality with men before the law.

The Regional Government shall take appropriate measures against all forms of exploitation of and discrimination against women.

It shall ensure the representation of women in appropriate decision and policy-making bodies.

Sec. 7. The Regional Government recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building.

The Regional Assembly may, by law, create the Office of Youth Affairs and define its powers, functions and composition.

Sec. 8. The Regional Government shall protect the rights of people's organizations.

Sec. 9. The Regional Government recognizes labor as a primary social economic force for development. It shall afford full protection to labor, promote full employment, ensure equal work opportunities regardless of sex, race or creed, and regulate the relations between workers and employers.

The Regional Government shall ensure the right of labor to its just share in the fruits of production, and the right of enterprise to reasonable returns on investments and to expansion and growth.

Sec. 10. The Regional Assembly may create a Commission on Human Rights, and define its powers and functions, subject to the Constitution, national laws, and to the supervision of the national Commission on Human Rights.