Leader: Dana Reuelle R.

Uy
Members: Ryla Nea C. Bestudio
Jonel De Guzman Mangahas

ARTICLE XIII
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

I.

Introduction
This Article basically aims to promulgate to the people their rights as a
citizen of the Philippines. In this Constitution, it seeks not only social justice
but also agrarian and natural resources reform, urban land reform and
housing; protection to labor; recognizing the rights of every citizens and
peoples organization and to espouse an integrated health development
program. The state must guarantee that those who have less in life should
have more in law.
This article also orders the Congress to legislate creating an independent
Commission on Human Rights by giving them the right and responsibility to
investigate violations committed by the public and private organizations.

II.

Body
The skit that was presented focused on two major issues where the
human rights are commonly violated. First, the violated right of the workers in
their labor, specifically the farmers. The rights that were violated were their (1)
right to a living wage, wherein the farmers worked hard to get their wage, but
their employer gave them an unfair wage. As it was stated in the Rights of
Workers Right to a living wage under Article XIII, Sec. 3 of the 1978
Philippine Constitution, A worker has a right to receive a fair and just
compensation for his work. Because the farmers did not get the wage they
worked for, they used their (2) right to peaceful and concerted activities
including the right to strike. The farmers ushered a strike against the
employer (Art. III, Sec. 4) asking justice of farmers and saying NO to unfair
wages.
Lastly, the protection and promotion of the right to health. Every citizen of
the Philippines has the right to value their health which in the skit, the mother
was very concerned of her childs sickness. Following the saying those who
have less should have more in law because the family is less fortunate and
cant afford to have a regular check-up, they used their right to have a free
medical check-up (Art. XIII, Sec. 11) as it is the mandatory duty of the state.

III.

Conclusion
Article XIII of the Philippine Constitution outlines the views of social justice
and human rights. The constitution states that all laws with the intention of
improving social justice will be given the highest priority. The article XIII
asserts that all information about justice should be prevailed to any

circumstances. The Congress shall protect all people regardless of race,

nationality, gender, religion, and political leaning, among others. They should
be respected without prejudice. Respect begets commitment from state that
no law should be made to interfere or curtail the fulfillment of the stated
human rights. Protecting means that human rights violations should be
prevented and if they exist, immediate action should be made.

IV.

Bibliography
Role and Rights of People's Organizations
Retrieved from: http://rolesandrights.blogspot.com/2011/10/1987constitution-article-xiii-roles.html
Textbook on the Philippine Constitution
(De Leon, H. S., Sr. ; De Leon, H. M., Jr. (2014) Textbook on the
PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION. C.M. Recto Avenue: Manila, Philippines:
REX Book Store)
Philippine Law Reviewers
Retrieved from: https://lawphilreviewer.wordpress.com/tag/political-lawconstitutional-law-article-xiii/

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines

(Salao, E. C. (2005) The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines. C.M. Recto Avenue: Manila, Philippines: REX Book Store)