KABAYAN THE LEGISLATOR

The Senate provides a forum for Kabayan to bring forth to national attention issues closest to his heart: environment, youth and family welfare, social justice, and education.

Kabayan believes in the richness and beauty of the Philippines’ natural resources He therefore advocates for the sustainable management and use of these resources so that this could be tapped by future generations for productive use.

Consistent with these values, he has authored many bills on the promotion of the environment, among these, SB 2264, or “An Act Providing for the Protection, Conservation and Management of Mangrove Forests”.

As a legislator he recognizes that mangroves are a valuable resource in maintaining economically important coastal ecosystems. These values include sustainable forestry, nursery areas for prawns, crabs and fish, protection of coasts, not to mention the livelihood and employment it provides to fishers and villagers. Controlled mangrove harvesting can therefore provide resources continuously and be a sustainable industry.

This bill aims to rehabilitate the state of our mangroves (bakawan) and prevent their further degradation through mangrove monitoring and establishment of good forestry practice with the institution of Mangrove Reservation Areas in all water areas within the country. Mangroves’ protection, conservation and management will be enforced within these areas along with the establishment of Councils, both at the national and local level for the proper implementation of policies, rules and regulations. Among these policies is the pre-requisite issuance of permit by the DENR in coordination with the DA and concerned LGUs, scientific community and the academe, with regard to the collection and removal of resources within these areas.

Kabayan also values the dignity of every Filipino and would ensure the protection of their rights. He abhors discrimination in all its forms. Consistent with this mindset, he filed Senate Bill 2453 (Reintegration of Released Prisoners Act) to give these rehabilitated offenders a REAL new lease on life.

This bill adopts a two-tier method of preparation and resocialization. The various Government agencies engaged in the promotion of livelihood programs and development of skills, abilities and vocational qualification shall conduct trainings and seminars on these subjects to prepare convicts to compete favorably for available business, productive and remunerative employment opportunities in the labor market when they are released from prison. This bill likewise mandates the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to conduct guidance and counseling programs to instill or further strengthen the basic norms and values of these convicts.

The second, and most important, ensures the reintegration of released prisoners in the mainstream of society. The bill mandates the Department of Labor and Employment to provide support for job placement of released prisoners and to encourage active participation of the private sector in promoting the welfare of these persons to ensure their gainful employment. Senator de Castro believes that the spirit of “Bayanihan” is alive in the hearts of Filipinos and this fact would ensure the success of their reintegration. To further bolster his vision, Senator de Castro provided in the bill that twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount paid as salaries and wages to released prisoners as additional tax deduction as an incentive to private entities that employ them. This legislative measure prohibits denial of employment opportunity and discrimination to persons solely on account of the person’s previous conviction.

With the enactment of this proposed measure, Senator de Castro believes that the incidents of previous offenders coming in conflict with the law would be totally eliminated.

Thirdly, Kabayan believes that a strong republic has to have sturdy institutions. With this end in view, the Senator has set his sights on one of the most important government institutions, the judiciary. The Senator is aware that delays in the administration of justice have immensely contributed in the eroding of the people’s trust in the justice system. Considering further the expenses that court actions entail, as well as the amount of time devoted in seeing these actions through, the Senator realized the need for a more expeditious means of settling disputes without resorting to the lengthy and tedious process of litigation.

Through Senate Bill No. 2411, Senator De Castro seeks to institutionalize the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution system in the Philippines and to establish the Philippine Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution (PCADR). Under this system, disputes that are cognizable by the PCADR, such as civil cases where the amount of the claim does not exceed P50, 000.00, cases that are cognizable by the Lupong Tagapamayapa under the Katarungang Pambarangay, the civil aspect of B.P.22 cases, and the civil aspect of quasi-offenses under Title 14 of the Revised Penal Code, cannot be filed directly in the regular courts. Parties to the dispute would have to submit their differences before PCADR- accredited mediators or arbitrators, and work toward settling their dispute amicably. Since the mediators/arbitrators are chosen by both parties, their decision or any agreement reached through their mediation would be afforded more respect by the parties. Moreover, since the rules of procedure before the mediators/arbitrators are less formal, the proceedings are expected to be more relaxed, and therefore, more conducive to an early settlement of disputes between the parties.

Clearly, this bill will benefit a many of our people, especially the less privileged. If enacted into a law, this bill will provide a swifter, simpler, and less costly alternative to judicial recourse in conflict resolution.

Finally, Kabayan believes that the youth plays a vital role in nation-building. In this regard, he has filed three important youth-related legislations, namely:

1. Senate Bill No. 1852 – “ The Dropout Prevention Act of 2001” which aims to establish that a growing number of young people are not making successful transitions to productive adult lives. It also establishes that traditional education programs which does not meet certain student’s educational needs and interests may cause these students to become unmotivated, fail, be truant, be disruptive, or drop out of school due to crime, poverty, unwanted pregnancies, substance abuse or unemployment.

   Therefore, it is the intent of this bill for the Department of Education to establish comprehensive dropout prevention programs , such as but not limited to, educational alternative programs, teenage parent programs, substance abuse programs, disciplinary programs and youth services programs

2. Senate Bill No.1946 - “ The Newborn Screening Test Act” which aims to establish a newborn screening test, integrating the same into the State’s health care delivery programs for free, in order to test infants for five (5) potentially devastating and fatal metabolic disorders namely, congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), galactosemia (GAL), phenylketonuria (PKU), and glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD). Failure to detect, at the soonest possible time, any of these five metabolic disorders would result into the infant’s retardation and in extreme cases, death.
3. Senate Bill No. 2537 – “The Safe Haven for Infants Act of 2003” which provides for criminal immunity for a parent who voluntarily surrenders custody of an unharmed infant aged 30 days old or younger to a hospital, open emergency medical facility, police station or the DSWD. It ensures that abandoned babies be saved and shall receive prompt medical attention and to establish child welfare pursuant to social justice policies of the government.

   Senator De Castro is a firm believer of that popular Rizal saying, “ Ang kabataan ay pag-asa ng bayan”. It is for this reason that through these bills, he further promotes and protects the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of this important sector, preparing them to play a very important role in our society.

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