REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

._ 8454

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

House Bill

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has a reputation of being an advocate of human rights not only within the
Asian region, but also across the world. It is one of the original signatories of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and has signed, ratified, and acceded to at least twenty-three
(23) international covenants and treaties with respect to such rights. Likewise, the Constitution
expressly provides that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantee fill
respect for human rights.

However, this reputation, since the advent of the present administration, has been tainted
with the blood of those who perished under the inhumanity of the war on drugs. Moreover, rampant
poverty, which remains largely unabated up to this day, is to be considered an affront to the human
right to a decent life; food and shelter; social security; and education. These realities therefore
necessitate that we capacitate our people to be better able to address the human rights injustices
committed against them by bringing them closer to the authorities specially equipped to assist in
‘such cases.

Thus, as faithful observance of this representation’s commitment in preserving the sanctity
and integrity of human rights in the country, this representation aims to establish human rights
resource centers 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 local law enforcement.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No._ $454

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C, ALEJANO

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.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.—It shall be the policy of State to promote social justice in
all phases of national development as it values the dignity of every human person and guarantees
full respect for human rights, It shall articulate the twenty-three (23) international covenants and
treaties on human rights, to which it is a signatory and has ratified in its national and local laws.

It shall also be the policy of the State to give priority to education among the youth to foster
patriotism and nationalism

SEC. 3. Human Rights Resource Centers.—Human Rights Resource Centers, hereinafter
referred to as HR 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 local law enforcement. These centers shall be the repository of
all human rights concerns at the provincial level

‘The HR 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 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


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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 HR 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 HR Resource Centers.—The HR Resource Centers shall have the

following functions:

on

arising

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;

©. Monitor compliance with international treaty obligations and national legislation
human rights for the purpose of ensuring the proper enforcement of laws and observance of
international obligations at the local level;

4. 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;

. Coordinate with barangay, municipal, and provincial human rights officers, desks
or committees, as the case may be, and with the Regional Office of the CHR on issues
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;


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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. 12. Repealing Clause—All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Separability Clause.—If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other parts not otherwise affected shall remain in full effect and force.

SEC. 14. Effectivity—This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,