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WORLD SOCIAL FORUM 2024�15-19 FEBRUARY 2024�KATHMANDU, NEPAL

“TOWARDS UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PROTECTION”

MATERNITY PROTECTION FOR WORKERS IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY

“COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZING TO ADVOCACY FOR ACCESS TO MATERNITY PROTECTION”

SHARING GOOD PRACTICES IN THE PHILIPPINES

BY: PRIMAR JARDELEZA

PRESIDENT, HOMENET PHILIPPINES

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COMBINING HEALTH, LIVELIHOOD, AND HOUSING SERVICES

  • THE MANILA INFORMAL WORKERS ASSOCIATION (MAIWA) IS A MEMBERSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATION OF WORKERS IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY BASED IN THE HEART OF THE CITY OF MANILA WITH AN ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP OF 17, MOSTLY WOMEN. IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1998.
  • BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IN COOPERATION WITH CARITAS MANILA AND DON BOSCO CATHOLIC SCHOOL, MAIWA OPERATED AN ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CENTER. AMONG ITS SERVICES ARE FREE CHECK-UP, FREE MEDICINES, AND FREE MASSAGE THROUGH A MASSAGE MACHINE.
  • THE PROGRAM WAS MANAGED BY MAIWA VOLUNTEERS MOSTLY WOMEN. DURING THE PANDEMIC THE OPERATION OF THE CENTER WAS STOPPED AND JUST RECENTLY, ITS OPERATION STARTED AGAIN BUT WITH MASSAGE AS ITS PRIMARY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
  • CLIENTS GIVE DONATIONS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MACHINE AND TOKEN TO THE ONE IN-CHARGE IN MAINTAINING THE CLINIC.

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COMBINING HEALTH, LIVELIHOOD, AND HOUSING SERVICES

CONT’D.

  • 5 MAIWA MEMBERS REGULARLY DO VOLUNTEER WORK OF THE CLINIC WHILE OTHER MEMBERS DONATE A SMALL AMOUNT FOR THE OPERATION OF THE CLINIC.
  • ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY WORK BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL � AT THE LOCAL LEVEL (IN THE CITY OF MANILA)
    • FOR THE INCLUSION IN THEIR LOCAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF A LACTATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, INCLUDING CREATING LACTATION STATIONS IN THE INFORMAL WORK PLACES SUCH AS MARKETS AND TRANSPORT TERMINALS.
    • ADVOCATED FOR THE LOCALIZATION OF THE EXPANDED MATERNITY LEAVE LAW (EMLL)

AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES & SENATE)

    • PARTICIPATED IN THE ONLINE STUDY MEETINGS AND HEARINGS IN BOTH HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE WORKERS IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY (WIE) ACT

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COMBINING HEALTH, LIVELIHOOD, AND HOUSING SERVICES

  • PROVIDING LIVELIHOOD AND ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY:
  • ENGAGED IN URBAN GARDENING, PLANTING VEGETABLES AND HERBS IN VACANT LOTS OF DON BOSCO CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND ON THEIR ROOFTOPS, AND OTHERS RAISED CHICKENS
  • DURING PANDEMIC MAIWA VOLUNTEERS SELL THEIR AGRI-PRODUCTS IN NEARBY COMMUNITIES AND OTHER FOOD CHAINS TO EARN A LIVING.
  • THE GARDEN GOT SUPPORT FROM PERSONNEL OF THE DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE WHO TAUGHT THEM HYDRO PHONICS AND REGULARLY SUPPLY THEM WITH SEEDS
  • CHURCHGOERS ARE THE PRIMARY MARKET OF THEIR PRODUCE

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COMBINING HEALTH, LIVELIHOOD, AND HOUSING SERVICES

CONT’D.

PROVIDING LIVELIHOOD AND ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY:

  • MAIWA LED THE ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN FOR KATUPARAN BUILDING – A HOUSING PROGRAM UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT FIDEL RAMOS FOR THE RELOCATION OF 340 INFORMAL SETTLER FAMILIES TO NAIC, CAVITE THROUGH THE NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE CITY OF MANILA UNDER MAYOR ISKO MORENO.
  • FOR SIX (6) MONTHS THE CITY OF MANILA SUPPORTED THE RELOCATES BY PROVIDING THEM FOOD PACKAGES AND ENSURING THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD NO LONGER COME BACK TO MANILA.
  • THE CITY OF MANILA AS SENDING MUNICIPALITY AND NAIC, CAVITE PROVIDED THE RELOCATEES A SMART PLACE TO LIVE IN WHERE BASIC AMENITIES INCLUDING LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS WERE PROVIDED

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