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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2475 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This measure is a consolidated/substituted bill drafted by the Committees 
on Justice and Human Rights and Local Government during the 14th Congress. 
Section 11, Article II of the Philippine Constitution provides that the "State 
values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human 
rights." Further, Section 1, Article XIII states that "Congress shall give priority to 
the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to 
human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove 
cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power of the common 
good." While the Constitution mandates the promotion and protection of human 
rights of Filipinos, our country has been accused of serious human rights abuses 
by international community and human rights organizations. 
This bill seeks to establish Human Rights Resource Centers nationwide to 
integrate the promotion and protection of human rights in the implementation of 
the criminal justice system, in the conduct of local governance and in local law 
enforcement. These centers shall be the repository of all human rights concerns 
at the provincial level, and shall, among others, monitor compliance with 
international treaty obligations and national legislation on human rights for the 
purpose of ensuring the proper enforcement of laws and observance of 
international obligations at the local level. 
The Human Rights Resource Centers shall be attached to the Office of the 
Governor giving utmost priority to the prinCiple of transparency and accountability 
in the planning, policy-making and implementation of its programs and projects. 
The Centers shall ensure close collaboration and coordination with the Regional 
Office of the Commission on Human Rights, the Office of the Provincial 
Prosecutor, the Office of the Provincial Commander of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines and the Office of the Provincial Director of the Philippine National 
Police. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2475 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO 
STRENGTHEN 
PHILIPPINE 
COMMITMENT 
TO 
HUMAN 
RIGHTS 
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION BY ESTABLISHING HUMAN RIGHTS 
RESOURCE CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Shori Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Human Rights 
Resource Center Act of 2010". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to 
promote the dignity of every human person and guaranty full respect for human 
rights. 
SEC. 3. The Human Rights Resource Centers. - Human Rights 
Resource Centers are hereby established throughout the country to integrate the 
promotion and protection of human rights in the implementation of the criminal 
justice system, in the conduct of local governance and in local law enforcement. 
These centers shall be the repository of all human rights concerns at the 
provincial level. 
The Human Rights Resource Centers shall be attached to the Office of the 
Governor but the planning, policy-making and implementation shall be done with 
transparency and 
accountability. 
However, 
the 
Regional 
Office of the 
Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, the 
Office of the Provincial Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 
and the Office of the Provincial Director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) 
shall collaborate and coordinate in ensuring the effective operation of the HR 
Resource Centers including, but not limited to, the mobilization of resources and 
the provision of technical support. 
At the operational level, the Human Resource Centers shall be headed by 
a volunteer lawyer from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines with support staff 
composed of volunteers from students of law schools who are rendering 
paralegal 
services 
as 
part . of their curriculum 
requirements, 
people's 
organizations and non-government organizations (Pas and NGOs, respectively) 
with credibility in the locality and independent of the local government. 
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SEC. 4. Functions of the Human Rights Resource Centers. - The 
Human Resource Centers shall have the following functions: 
(a) Set up a library of international covenants and treaties to which the 
Philippines is a signatory, has acceded to and/or has ratified; 
(b) Provide the necessary resource persons, literary and other educational 
materials to persons or group of persons who advocate and work for a continuing 
program of education that enhances respect for the primacy of human rights; 
(c) Monitor compliance with international treaty obligations and national 
legislation on human rights for the purpose of ensuring the proper enforcement of 
laws and observance of international obligations at the local level; 
(d) Coordinate with various government agencies involved in the 
promotion and protection of various aspects of human rights, as well as with the 
Presidential Committee on Human Rights; 
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(e) Coordinate with barangay, municipal, city and provincial human rights 
officers, desks or committees, as the case may be, and with the Regional Office 
of the CHR on issues arising from violations of civil, political, economic, social 
and cultural rights of the people, particularly those of women and children, for 
purposes of referring or endorsing the same through an appropriate mechanism 
to the proper government agencies for appropriate action and immediate 
resolution; 
(f) Take an active part in efforts aimed at promoting peace and 
development in the area and serve as the convergence point for these efforts at 
the local level; 
(g) Recommend the enactment of necessary local legislation that will 
protect and promote human rights in the province; and 
(h) Participate in the development, planning and budgeting process of the 
local government unit concerned 
using the principles 
of rights-based 
development wherein development plans for the locality come from the citizens 
who are targeted to be the direct beneficiaries of the plans rather than the 
government imposing the plans on the citizens. 
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -
The CHR, in 
consultation, coordination and collaboration with the Supreme Court, the 
Department of Justice, the AFP, the PNP, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines 
and human rights NGOs and POs duly recognized and accredited by the 
government, shall prepare the implementing rules and regulations necessary to 
carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. In case any provision of this Ad is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected 
thereby shall continue in full force and effect. 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations, issuances or any parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are deemed repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved, 
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