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Support for charter change not among the conditions to qualify for government aid: DOLE, DOH

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Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Residents brave the heat as they avail of free social services during an event organized by the City of Manila at De Pinedo Street in San Andres, Manila on April 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2024/news/01/09/20230425-manila-social-services-jc2230.jpg"/><figcaption>Residents brave the heat as they avail of free social services during an event organized by the City of Manila at De Pinedo Street in San Andres, Manila on April 24, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Support for the charter change initiative is not among the conditions to qualify for the government’s medical and emergency employment assistance programs, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Health stressed on Tuesday.<br/> <br/>They issued the statement following allegations by Senator Imee Marcos that government aid programs, including DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD), and DOH’s Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP), are being offered by the cha-cha signature campaign prime movers as incentive to districts that will deliver the required number of signatures for the petition.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/09/24/doh-distances-self-from-charter-change-talk">Department of Health distances self from charter change talk</a></li></ul><p>Under the 1987 Constitution, amendments to the charter may be proposed by the people through initiative, upon a petition of at least 12% of the total number of registered voters in the country, with every legislative district represented by at least 3% of its registered voters.<br/> <br/>“The only consideration of the DOH for the distribution of medical assistance for indigent and financially incapacitated patients is their circumstance as evaluated by a licensed social worker at a hospital or health facility,” DOH Deputy Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo told ABS-CBN News.<br/> <br/>Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, for his part, said only disadvantaged and displaced workers are eligible to avail of the benefits under the TUPAD program. He added that DOLE is ready to investigate should a complaint be filed regarding the implementation of the said emergency employment program.<br/> <br/>“Nakakalungkot to the point na nakakagalit dahil ang TUPAD po ay isang magandang programa na layunin ay tumulong po sa lehitimo, ika nga, magiging entitled bilang benepisyaryo at hindi po nakabatay bilang insentibo para lang sa isang bagay na ika nga ay politika ang karakter.. Hindi po mapapahintulutan ng DOLE na kami ay kasangkapan sa mga gawain na hindi angkop sa batas,” he told ANC’s Dateline.<br/> <br/>“Hindi ito pwedeng ipagkakaloob lang, gaya ng sa alegasyon, pipirma ka lang bibigyan ka ng TUPAD… Hindi kasama sa conditionality &#x27;yan na magpirma ka para ma-indigent ka sa TUPAD. Kailangan ang basic, nandoon siya sa kategoryang nabanggit ko, disadvantaged at displaced worker… Kung may nagsasabi na kayo ay pagkakalooban nito basta kayo ay pumirma ay hindi po tama… Hindi ganyan ang pamantayan at alituntunin ng DOLE,” Laguesma reminded the public.</p><div><strong>SECTORS DEFEND CHA-CHA PUSH </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, a farmers&#x27; group and the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) have defended the push for amendments to the Constitution, saying it was time to change the “restrictive provisions.” </p><p>Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez said their league would support changes geared towards improving the economy. A resolution calling for the amendments, he said, was already passed by LCP.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/01/08/24/charter-change-through-peoples-initiative-what-is-it">Charter change through People&#x27;s Initiative: What is it?</a></li></ul><p>ABS-CBN News has already requested a copy of the resolution from Benitez but he has yet to respond as of this story’s posting. </p><p>Benitez noted that they have yet to tackle what “mode of charter change” they would pursue. </p><p>“Ang isang pinag-uusapan muna paano natin aamyendahan ang Konstitusyon na sang-ayon sa nagugustuhan ng taumbayan,” he said. </p><p>Former House lawmaker Argel Cabatbat of the Magsasaka Partylist, meanwhile, said they already “mobilized” farmers’ groups to support the call to amend the Constitution. </p><p>Cabatbat said farmers were at the forefront for the people-led constitutional reform initiative to help modernize the agriculture sector. </p><p>“We have mobilized our leaders and farmers’ groups not only in Albay, but in the entire country to get the number of signatures needed for the People’s Initiative. We are in close coordination with other people’s organizations and local government leaders who are with us in this campaign,” said Cabatbat in a statement.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/10/24/support-for-cha-cha-not-among-the-conditions-to-qualify-for-govt-aid">Support for charter change not among the conditions to qualify for government aid: DOLE, DOH</a></li></ul><p>“Our farmers, who tirelessly work our lands, understand the power of unity and collective action. Their support, along with that of civic groups and local leaders, is a beacon of hope and solidarity,” he added. </p><p>Some House lawmakers this week raised concerns on supposed &quot;nationwide&quot; charter change campaigns in which mayors were allegedly asked to give P100 to every constituent who would sign a petition to tweak a constitutional provision that directs the chambers of Congress to vote separately when modifying the Constitution.</p><p>Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman earlier said in a statement that the mayors had been informed that a people&#x27;s initiative would be used in amending the constitution.</p><p>He alleged that the local chief executives &quot;were given mobilization funds and the forms to be signed by at least three per centum of the registered voters of the legislative district to which their municipalities belong.&quot;</p><p>Discussions on amending the 1987 Constitution have come up in every presidency since Fidel Ramos&#x27; and have been met with varying degrees of enthusiasm by sitting presidents. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/01/09/24/albay-officials-deny-bribery-allegations-surrounding-peoples-initiative-for-charter-change">Albay officials deny bribery allegations surrounding people’s initiative for charter change</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/08/24/comelec-no-jurisdiction-on-alleged-peoples-initiative-on-charter-change">Comelec says no jurisdiction on alleged people&#x27;s initiative on charter change</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2899503" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said only disadvantaged and displaced workers are eligible to avail of the benefits under the TUPAD program.

Support for charter change not among the conditions to qualify for government aid: DOLE, DOH

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Support for charter change not among the conditions to qualify for government aid: DOLE, DOH

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 10, 2024 12:59 AM PHT

|

Updated Jan 10, 2024 09:20 AM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

charter change

cha-cha

government aid

TUPAD

MAIP

DOLE

DOH

constitution

1987 constitution

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