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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
1 1. R:3 
Senate Bill No. 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The protection of human rights is essential to any country that calls itself 
democratic. Governments are bound by international and domestic statutes to 
protect those 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 
.. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
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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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the "Human Rights 
Resource Center Act of 2013". 
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 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 (POs and NGOs, respectively) 
with credibility in the locality and independent of the local government. 


SEC. 4. Functions of the Human 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; 
(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 wiff 
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 Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected 
thereby shall continue in full force and effect 


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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, 
SEC. 8. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two newspapers of natio~a,I" circulation, 
Approved, 
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