PNoy wants substitute bill for 'Magna Carta for the Poor'

MANILA, Philippines - Social Welfare Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman" said that President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the crafting of another measure that would replace the proposed Magna Carta for the Poor, which he recently vetoed due to lack of funding.

(Read related story: Lack of budget forces Aquino to veto pro-poor measure)

Soliman said in a radio interview that she is already closely working with Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on the substitute bill, which is targeted to be presented before the two chambers on the opening of the 16th Congress in June.

She said that the rights of the poor will be recognized through basic services just like in the original bill, but the substitute measure will take into account the government's capacity to provide and implement.

"There are several laws stating the poor has rights ... but they do not discuss where the funding should be sourced. This is the President's point, that our poor countrymen should not be given false hopes, [and] even if this is in the law, it is not 'implementable' as of the moment," Soliman said.

She added that besides various government programs already in place respond to the needs of the poor, the substitute bill is meant to further discuss funding and execution.

"Ibig sabihin na kailangang idetalye ng substitute bill... ang pamamaraan, pagkukuhaan at proseso sa pagpapatotoo ng karapatan na nakalagay po roon," Soliman said.

The original measure promised the poor's equal access to food, employment, health services, livelihood, quality education and shelter--the implementation of which Aquino deemed unrealistic given a national budget of P2 trillion.

"Ngayon, ‘yung budget natin ang pwede lang i-program of the P2-trillion (for housing) is roughly about P600-billion. Wala pa ‘yung right to food, wala pa ‘yung right to work, wala pa ‘yung right to health, wala pa ‘yung right to education,” Aquino told the media on Monday.

The president added that the magna carta or "new charter" also states that citizens can sue the government if such requirements and services are not met.

"Pwede akong magpa-cute. Pwede kong pinirmahan itong batas na ‘to, pogi tayo, pero alam ko hindi mami-meet ng gobyerno. Made-demanda pa, kunwari, ‘yung head ng [National Housing Authority]: ‘bakit wala akong bahay?" he added.

The proposed Magna Carta for the Poor was approved by Congress in December 2012.