FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 236::Z 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
1(J 
AUG 10 r 5 :JS . 
It shall be the policy of the State to promote the dignity of every human 
person and guaranty full respect for human rights. 
Internationally, the concept of human rights is embodied in the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations, 1948) and other human rights 
documents and treaties that have followed in its wake. 
This bill proposes the establishment of Human Rights Resource Centers, 
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, 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 protection of human rights promotes the dignity of every individual. 
It is one of the challenges that we have to face as a nation. It is only through the 
fulfillment of this goal can we truly claim that indeed, democracy is alive in this 
country if our people enjoy the freedom and rights enshrined in the Constitution. 
The passage of this bill is therefore earnestly requested 
'&s* 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'SENATE 
S. B. No. 2362 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
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: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Human Rights 
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Resource Center Act". 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to 
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promote the dignity of every human person and guaranty full respect for human 
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rights. 
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SECTION3. The Human Rights Resource Centers. - Human Rights 
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Resource Centers are hereby established throughout the country to integrate the 
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promotion and protection of human rights in the implementation of the criminal 
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justice system, in the conduct of local governance and in local law enforcement. 
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These centers shall be the repository of all human rights concerns at the 
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provincial level. 
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The Human Resource Centers shall be attached to the Office of the 
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Governor but the planning, policy-making and implementation shall be done 
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with transparency and accountability. However, the Regional Office of the 
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Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, 
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the Office of the Provincial Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
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(AFP) and the Office of the Provincial Director of the Philippine National Police 
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(PNP) shall collaborate and coordinate in ensuring the effective operation of the 
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HR Resource Centers including, but not limited to, the mobilization of resources 
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and the provision of technical support. 
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At the operational level, the Human Resource Centers shall be headed by 
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a volunteer lawyer from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines with support staff 
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composed of volunteers from students of law schools who are rendering 
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paralegal services as part of their curriculum requirements, people's 
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organizations and non-government organizations (POs and NGOs, respectively) 
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with credibility in the locality and independent of the local government. 


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SECTION 4. Functions of the Human Resource Centers. - The Human 
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Resource Centers shall have the following functions: 
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(a) Set up a library of international covenants and treaties to which the 
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Philippines is a signatory, has acceded to and/ or has ratified; 
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(b) Provide the necessary resource persons, literary and other educational 
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materials to persons or group of persons who advocate and work for a 
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continuing program of education that enhances respect for the primacy of 
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human rights; 
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(c) Monitor compliance with international treaty obligations and national 
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legislation on human rights for the purpose of ensuring the proper enforcement 
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of laws and observance of international obligations at the local level; 
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(d) Coordinate with various government agencies involved in the promotion and 
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protection of various aspects of human rights, as well as with the Presidentia,l 
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Committee on Human Rights; 
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(e) Coordinate with barangay, municipal, city and provincial human rights 
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officers, desks or committees, aS,the case may be, and with the Regional Office of 
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the CHR on issues arising from violations of civil, political, economic, social and 
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cultural rights of the people, particularly those of women and children, for 
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purposes of referring or endorsing the same through an appropriate mechanism 
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to the proper government agencies for appropriate action and immediate 
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resolution; 
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(f) Take an active part in efforts' aimed at promoting peace and development in 
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the area and serve as the convergence point for these efforts at the local level; 
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(g) Recommend the enactment of necessary local legislation that will protect and 
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promote human rights in the province; and 
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(h) Participate in the development, planning and budgeting process of the local 
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government unit concerned using the principles of rights-based development 
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wherein development plans fqr the locality come from the citizens who are 
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targeted to be the direct beneficiaries of the plans rather than the government 
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imposing the plans on the citizens. 
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SECTION 5. Implernenting Rules and Regulations. - The CHR, in 
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consultation, coordination and collaboration with the Supreme Court, the 
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Department of Justice, the AFP, the PNP, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines 
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and human rights NGOs and POS duly recognized and accredited by the 
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government, shall prepare the implementing rules and regulations necessary to 
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carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause.- In case any provision of this Act is 
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declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
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and regulations, issuances or any parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
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of this Act are deemed repealed or amended accordingly. 


SECTION 8. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two newspapers of national circulation. 
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Approved,