Article XV
Social Justice, Services, Institutions, and Other Concerns
Section 1. Promotion of Social Justice.—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. (a) Social Services.—The Regional Assembly shall, consistent with the provisions of the Constitutions and existing national laws, enact measures to provide and promote social services.
(b) Food and Drug Regulation.—The Regional Assembly shall, by law, establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system. The rational use of drugs through an essential drugs list and the use of generic medicines or drugs, as well as the use of herbal medicines and indigenous, health resources, whenever appropriate, shall be encouraged and promoted.
(c) Other Legislation.—The Regional Assembly shall also enact legislation on the following:
(1) Child health and development, including the support of the physically challenged and other disadvantaged persons in need of welfare services;
(2) Protection and development of the rights of women and of indigenous population;
(3) Registration of births, marriages and deaths; and
(4) Fixing of regional public holidays.
Sec. 3. Housing Program.—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 year from its organization, enact measures embodying re-integration, programs responsive to the needs of former rebels who return to the fold of the law. A rehabilitation program shall be provided for displaced persons or communities that are victims of man-made or natural calamities;
Sec. 5. Family as Nation's Foundation.—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. Women's Rights.—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.
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. Youth.—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. People's Organization.—The Regional Government shall protect and promote the rights of people’s organizations.
Sec. 9. Protection Of Labor.—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.
This work is in the public domain because it is a work of the Philippine government (see Republic Act No. 8293 Sec. 176).
All official Philippine texts of a legislative, administrative, or judicial nature, or any official translation thereof, are ineligible for copyright.
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