De Lima hails Senate approval of 3 social justice bills

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has lauded her colleagues in the Senate for their approval of important social justice measures which seek to improve the lives of the most vulnerable sectors, notably poor families and senior citizens.

De Lima, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, said she is elated that three of her pet measures have been overwhelmingly approved in the Senate ahead of their mid-term election recess.

"Recently, three priority legislations were successfully passed in the Senate with the goal of improving the lives of the most vulnerable sectors of our society. Their cries have finally been heard, and they will no longer be consigned in the shadows," she said in her Dispatch from Crame No. 462.

Last Jan. 29, the Senate passed on 3rd and final reading Senate Bill (SB) No. 2121, also referred to as the Magna Carta of the Poor, which seeks to guarantee full enjoyment of the basic rights of the poor to food, work, education, shelter and health.

Under SB 2121 which she authored, poor individuals are granted ready access to government services to mitigate the impact of poverty especially during times of calamities or natural disasters.

The Senate also okayed SB 2159 creating a national commission that would formulate policies and programs to protect the welfare of senior citizens in compliance with its obligation "to give back to those who served this nation with blood and sweat."

Last Feb. 4, the Upper Chamber also approved SB 2117 which institutionalizes the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program or 4Ps as one of the national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program unaffected by any political transitions.

"With these milestones, it is imperative that we all do our part and remain ever vigilant in ensuring that these measures are signed into law and dutifully and responsibly implemented by the national government," De Lima added.

De Lima, a human rights and social justice champion, thanked the Senate leadership under Senate President Vicente Sotto III for steering clear these important social justice measures she has espoused under her committee chairmanship.

"Bagaman malayo na ang ating narating, kailangan pa natin ng patuloy pang pagsusog at suporta upang tuluyang maisabatas itong mga panukalang ito na makatutulong sa ating mga kababayang nangangailangan," she said.

"This is but another step forward in our continuing journey towards attaining social justice for the disadvantaged sectors. Walang tatalo sa pwersa ng nagkakaisang sambayanan," she added.

The lady Senator from Bicol said she has other social justice bills she authored that are already in the pipeline, optimistic that her colleagues would be able to throw in their unequivocal support to their immediate passage into law.