FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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1
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SENATE
Senate Bill No.
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIV, Sec. 17 of the1987 Constitution states that: “The State shall
recognize, respect and protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities to
preserve and develop their cultures, traditions and institutions. It shall consider
these rights in the formulation of national plans and policies.”
It is therefore, explicit that the State is mandated to establish, maintain,
and ensure adequate social services in the field of education, health, housing,
employment, welfare and social security to guarantee the enjoyment by the
Filipino people, irrespective of color or creed, of a decent standard of living.
The national tribal communities continue to live in the same manner they
used to be in the past. We find the various regions of the country with little
visible substantial changes in their standards of living. The benefits of improved
health care and housing seem to be negligible in the minority areas and no
appreciable improvement can be seen especially with the unstable peace and
order prevailing in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.
This bill seeks to establish Pilot Tribal Communities andlor Housing
Projects in each and every region in the Philippines, including Metro Manila,
which shall serve as model human settlements that will adhere or conform to
their cultures and traditions. At ,the same time, it shall provide the basic
convenience of modern living such as health, education, livelihood and
recreational facilities.
Under this proposed measure, it is believed that with the introduction or
establishment of these human settlements the tribal minorities, both Christian
and Muslims, will no longer feel that they neglected and the resultant benefits
would be better understanding and harmony among all Filipinos of diverse
religious beliefs.
In view of the foregoing considerations, early approval of this bill is
earnestly requested.
AGGOAEJERCITO
ESTRADA
u s e n a t o r