TVyENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
25 AUG-4 P5 30
S. No.
SENATE
850
Rt-;COVi{D B»:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines, frequently impacted by natural disasters, armed conflict, and 
other crises, has seen countless individuals forcibly displaced from their homes. 
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) often endure prolonged periods of uncertainty, 
vulnerability, and hardship, lacking access to basic services, adequate shelter, 
education, and livelihood. While various humanitarian responses have been mobilized 
over the years, there remains a clear and urgent need for a coherent, rights-based 
legal framework to ensure the protection, dignity, and long-term welfare of IDPs.
This measure seeks to address this gap by institutionalizing protection 
mechanisms for displaced individuals and communities. It outlines the responsibilities 
of government agencies and mandates the creation of durable, participatory solutions. 
The bill ensures that national response efforts are aligned with international human 
rights and humanitarian standards, thereby strengthening accountability and resilience 
in the face of displacement-related crises.
Filed by Senator Grace Poe in the 19th Congress, this bill recognizes the need 
to protect the rights and amplify the voices of internally displaced persons. Their


experiences are vital threads in the nation's broader narrative and deserve not only 
recognition but also comprehensive support.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
GGQY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
i.'Stfstt' ftf fl; t : {tr.i{
25 AUG-4 P5:30
SENATE
RliCEiVED BY;
S. No.
850
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Rights of Internally
2 
Displaced Persons Act or "RIDPA".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Principles and State Policies. - Consistent with the
4 
principles of the Constitution, international human rights and humanitarian standards
5 
including the United Nations' Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (UNGPID),
6 
international treaties adhered to by the Philippines, and existing Philippine laws such
7 
as Republic Act No. 9851, otherwise known as the Philippine Act on Crimes Against
8 
International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes against Humanity, it is
9 
hereby declared a State policy to adopt a rights-based approach for the promotion
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and protection of the rights of internally displaced persons in situations of armed
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conflict; generalized and/or organized violence; clan wars; violations of human rights;
12 
implementation of development projects; or natural or human-made hazards or
13 
disasters.
14 
The rights and obligations herein shall not be interpreted as restricting,
15 
modifying, or impairing the provisions of any international human rights or


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international humanitarian law treaties or declarations, or rights granted to persons
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under domestic law.
3 
The State shall harmonize all legal measures pertinent to "Internally Displaced
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Persons or group of persons" (IDPs), and ensure that such are consistent with this
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Act.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
7 
a) Armed Conflict - refers to any use of force or armed violence between
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States or protracted armed violence between governmental authorities and
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organized armed groups or between such groups within a State; Provided,
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That such force or armed violence gives rise, or may give rise, to a situation
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to which the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, including their
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common Article 3, apply. Armed conflict may be International, that is,
13 
between two (2) or more States, including belligerent occupation; or non-
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International, that is, between governmental authorities and organized
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armed groups or between such groups within a State. It does not cover
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internal disturbances or tensions such as riots, isolated and sporadic acts of
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violence, or other acts of a similar nature.
18 
b) dan War - refers to any conflict that may arise between members of
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different indigenous groups, indigenous cultural communities or clans, or
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between and among members of the same indigenous group, cultural
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community, or clan.
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c) Collective Punishment- refers to a situation in which a group of people is
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punished due to acts or omissions, whether real or perceived, of one or
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several members of the group.
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d) Generalized and/or organized violence - refers to the purposeful and
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systematic use of terror and brutality to control individuals, groups and
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communities, through the use of overwhelming force, and characterized by
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widespread, massive or sufficient intensity.
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e) Implementation of development projects - refers to the carrying out of any
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undertaking or activity aimed at economic or political growth, advancement,
31 
and expansion that results or may result to the arbitrary internal


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displacement of persons: Provided, That the term does not include
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legitimate resettlement schemes and/or programs.
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f) Internal displacement- refers to the involuntary or coerced movement or
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relocation of persons, families, or communities from their homes or places
5 
of habitual residence within the national borders, as a result of or in order
6 
to avoid or minimize the effects of armed conflict; situations of generalized
7 
and/or organized violence; violations of human right; implementation of
8 
development projects; or natural or human-induced or human-made
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hazards or disasters.
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g) Internally displaced person or group of persons (IDP) - refers to any person
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or group of persons who has or have been forced or obliged to flee or to
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leave their homes or places of habitual residence within the national
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borders, as a result of or in order to avoid or minimize the effects of armed
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conflict, situations of generalized and/or organized violence, violations of
15 
human rights, implementation of development projects, or natural and
16 
human- induced or human-made hazards or disasters.
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h) Order of Battle/Watchlist - refers to a document or an organizational tool
18 
used by military or law enforcement agencies that, inter alia, lists persons
19 
or organizations perceived as being hostile to the State, the Government or
20 
the Armed or Police Forces, or to any document made by non-state actors,
21 
whether natural or juridical, listing the names of persons and organizations,
22 
that are perceived to be obstacles to such non-state actor, and making those
23 
in such list vulnerable to arbitrary internal displacement
24 
Sec. 4. Scope. - This Act shall primarily provide for the protection of rights of
25 
IDPs during and after displacement, as well as their return, local integration or
26 
settlement elsewhere. This Act shall likewise cover arbitrary internal displacement of
27 
civilians as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict; violations of
28 
human rights; implementation of development projects; or natural or human- induced
29 
or human-made hazards: or disasters. To address the risks involved in natural hazards
30 
or disasters, and the overall impact of climate change on the rights of those internally
31 
displaced, due reference shall be made to the pertinent provisions of other relevant
32 
laws such as Republic Act No. 9729, otherwise known as the Climate Change Act of


1 
2009, and Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk
2 
Reduction and Management Act of 2010, and other related laws.
3 
Sec. 5. Primary Duty to Protect the IDPs. - National authorities and Local
4 
Government Units (LGUs) have the primary duty and responsibility to provide
5 
protection and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons within their
6 
jurisdiction, in accordance with their obligations under international law, including
7 
human rights law and humanitarian law, so as to prevent and avoid conditions that
8 
might lead to the arbitrary internal displacement of persons.
9 
Sec. 6. Rights of IDPs. - All IDPs shall enjoy human rights in accordance with
10 
the Philippine Constitution and related laws without discrimination of any kind. In
11 
particular, they shall enjoy the following rights:
12 
a) Access to Basic Necessities. - At the minimum, and with special attention
13 
to gender sensitivity, IDPs shall have the basic right to food, shelter, and
14 
clothing. Competent authorities shall provide the aforementioned basic
15 
rights with due respect to the cultural sensitivities and religious beliefs of
16 
IDPs.
17 
b) Heath and Education. -
18 
1) IDPs shall be entitled to access, to the fullest extent practicable,
19 
health services and with the least possible delay. Special attention
20 
shall be provided to the health needs of women, children, and the
21 
elderly and the prevention 
of contagious and infectious 
diseases
22 
among IDPs.
23 
2) IDP children shall receive free and compuisory primary education at
24 
a minimum.
25 
c) Freedom of Movement - Every IDP has the right to liberty of movement in
26 
and out of any evacuation center, transitory sites, or other settlements,
27 
subject to Its existing rules and regulations. Moreover, they shall be
28 
protected against forcible return or resettlement in any place where their
29 
lives, safety, liberty, and/or health would be at risk.
30 
d) Recognition, Issuance, and Replacement of Documents. - The authorities
31 
concerned shall facilitate the issuance to the IDPs of all documents
32 
necessary for the enjoyment and exercise of their legal rights, including new


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documents or the replacement of documents lost in the course of 
displacement, without imposing unreasonable conditions.
e) Family Reunification, Missing Persons and Deceased. - Competent 
authorities shall provide conditions to expedite family reunification, search 
of missing persons and collection, and identification of remains of the 
deceased, with due respect to cultural sensitivities and religious beliefs.
f) Security and Protection. - Competent authorities shall take necessary 
measures to ensure that IDPs are received, without discrimination of any 
kind, and live in satisfactory conditions of safety, dignity, and security. 
Special protection and assistance must be provided for IDPs with special 
needs, including separated and unaccompanied children, women, expectant 
mothers, mothers with young children, the elderly, and persons with 
disabilities or with communicable diseases.
g) Property and Possessions. - The property and possessions of IDPs shall, in 
all circumstances, be protected against pillage or looting, direct and 
indiscriminate attacks or other acts of violence, being used to shield military 
operations or objectives, being made the object of reprisal, being destroyed 
or appropriated as a form of collective punishment, and destruction, 
arbitrary and iilegal appropriation, occupation or use. The LGU exercising 
territorial jurisdiction over the affected area/s, with the assistance of the 
national Government, shall endeavor to facilitate the transportation of such 
property and possessions of IDPs, in a safe and secure area, during and 
after displacement, subject to logistical considerations.
h) Right to participation. - The IDPs shall have the right to actively participate 
in the planning and management of their displacement situation as well as 
return, local integration, or settlement elsewhere. In addition, IDPs shall be 
provided with conditions to facilitate the exercise of their right to political 
participation.
i) Right to request protection and humanitarian assistance. - The IDPs have 
the right to request protection and humanitarian assistance from national 
and local authorities. They shall not be punished or persecuted for such 
acts.


1 
j) Civil or Administrative Liabilities. - Any IDP shall be entitled to claim and be
2 
awarded civil damages from any public officer or employee, or any private
3 
person, who directly or indirectly obstructs, defeats, violates, or in any
4 
manner impedes or impairs any of the above rights and liberties. Any public
5 
officer shall be administratively liable for the same acts.
6 
Sec. 7. Applicability of the Revised Pena! Code and Special Pena! Laws. - An
7 
Order of Battle/Watchllst, or any document of similar nature issued by the military,
8 
any law enforcement agency of the government, or any armed group, including
9 
nonstate actors, shall not justify crimes against IDPs and shall subject the perpetrators
10 
to the penalties provided under the applicable provisions of the Revised Penal Code
11 
and special laws.
12 
Criminal offenses and unlawful acts. If found to be committed against any IDP
13 
in the course of or during displacement, shall be penalized one degree higher than
14 
that provided by the Revised Penal Code and other special penal laws with respect to
15 
those acts.
16 
Sec. 8. Assistance During Displacement of IDPs. - The primary duty and
17 
responsibility, for providing humanitarian assistance to IDPs lie with national
18 
authorities and with the LCDs exercising territorial jurisdiction over the affected areas.
19 
As such, existing mechanisms set up under Republic Act No. 10121 and relevant line
20 
agencies shall provideA immediate relief and humanitarian assistance to IDPs,
21 
families, and communities.
22 
Sec. 9. Early Recovery Plan. - The LGUs exercising territorial jurisdiction over
23 
the affected area/s shall craft an early recovery plan, in consultation with the IDPs.
24 
Sec. 10. Return, Local Integration, or Settlement Elsewhere. - Competent
25 
national and local authorities shall have the primary duty and responsibility to establish
26 
conditions and provide means for IDPs to return voluntarily, in safety and with dignity,
27 
to their homes or places of habitual residence, or to locally integrate or to settle
28 
voluntarily in another part of the country, taking into consideration the right of IDPs
29 
to choose a residence, arid with due respect to the cultural heritage and traditions of
30 
Indigenous Peoples.


1 
Said authorities shall ensure prior consultations and the full participation of
2 
IDPs, during and after the planning and management of their return, local integration,
3 
or settlement elsewhere.
4 
Sec. 11. Mechanisms for International Humanitarian Assistance. - International
5 
humanitarian organizations, their local counterparts, and other appropriate actors shall
6 
have the right to offer their services, including humanitarian assistance, in support of
7 
IDPs. Relevant coordination mechanisms, where existing, with international
8 
humanitarian organizations, shall facilitate the timely provision of humanitarian
9 
assistance to IDPs.
10 
The importation and donation of food, clothing, medicine, and equipment
11 
necessary for relief and assistance of IDPs are hereby authorized in accordance with
12 
Section 800 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs
13 
Modernization and Tariff Act, as regards national internal revenue taxes and import
14 
duties of national and local government agencies, and the prevailing provisions of the
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General Appropriations Act (GAA).
16 
Sec. 12. Non-Monetary Reparation. - The Department of Health (DOH), the
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education
18 
(DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and
19 
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and such other agencies, shall render
20 
necessary services as non-monetary reparation for IDPs and their families pursuant to
21 
the provisions of this Act.
22 
Sec. 13. Roie of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
23 
(NDRMMC) and Line Agencies. - The NDRRMC and government line agencies shall
24 
exercise their mandate and powers in accordance with Republic Act No. 10121 in
25 
responding to situations of internal displacement. In these situations, the CHR shall
26 
be part of the NDRRMC deliberations to provide advice as a non-voting member.
27 
Sec. 14. Roie of the CHR. - The CHR shall be designated as the Institutional
28 
focal point on the human rights of IDPs. As such, the CHR shall have the following
29 
additional functions:
30 
a) To monitor IDP conditions through the development of a system to track
31 
concerns, actions taken, and other relevant information to ensure that IDP


1 
rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled In all phases of Internal
2 
displacement;
3 
b) To establish guidelines to identify the legitimacy of an individual's claim of
4 
internal displacement;
5 
c) To conduct public inquiries, document violations of human rights, assist
6 
IDPs in seeking redress of grievances, and work to ensure an effective
7 
response by the concerned authorities;
8 
d) To investigate, on its own or on a complaint by any party, all forms of human
9 
rights violations against IDPs involving civil and political rights, in
10 
accordance with Section 18(1) of Article XIII of the Constitution, and when
11 
found in the investigation that the filing of a case in court is warranted,
12 
request the assistance of any department, bureau, office or agency, such
13 
as the National Prosecution Service of the DOJ, or the Ombudsman, by
14 
virtue of Executive Order No. 163, series of 1987;
15 
e) To render financial assistance at its sole discretion, and to issue necessary
16 
guidelines to implement the same;
17 
f) To recommend to the other agencies of government, taking into
18 
consideration their respective mandates and functions, the grant of
19 
assistance to IDPs, as may be appropriate;
20 
g) To follow up on early warning and ensure effective measures to protect the
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civilian population against arbitrary internal displacement;
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h) To undertake educational activities and training programs for state
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authorities, including the AFP;
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i) To hold public Information drives on the protection and rights of IDPs, and
25 
foster their participation in the decision-making process regarding Issues
26 
that concern them; and
27 
j) To carry out such other acts that may be necessary to fully implement the
28 
purposes of this Act.
29 
Sec. 15. Role of the DSWD. - The DSWD shall have the following functions,
30 
among others:
31 
a) To render psycho-social interventions and similar services to IDPs;


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b) To facilitate linking IDPs to employment opportunities, support services, and
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other livelihood programs, in cooperation with other government agencies,
3 
such as, but not limited to, the Department of Labor and Employment
4 
(DOLE), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform
5 
(DAR) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);
6 
c) To provide capital assistance to IDPs, who wish to start their respective
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trade or business, subject to reasonable rules and regulations; and
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d) To cany out such other acts that may be necessary to fully implement the
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aforementioned functions.
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Sec. 16. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - A Joint Congressional
11 
Oversight Committee is hereby created, composed of the Chairperson of the Senate
12 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights and seven (7) other Senators designated by
13 
the Senate President, and the Chairperson of the House Committee on Human Rights
14 
and seven (7) other Members of the House of Representatives, designated by the
15 
Speaker of the House of Representatives: Provided, That of the seven (7) Members to
16 
be designated by each House of Congress, four (4) shall represent the Majority and
17 
three (3) shall represent the Minority.
18 
The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee shall also have the power to
19 
inquire into, summon, and investigate the Orders of Battle/Watchllst as defined under
20 
this Act, and/or any document of similar nature, as well as the legal and factual
21 
justifications for the inclusion of specific persons and groups in said Orders of
22 
Battle/Watch list or similar documents. In this regard, the Joint Congressional
23 
Oversight Committee may issue a mandatory process directing the transmission of all
24 
such documents relevant and necessary for the Committee to determine the validity
25 
of the inclusion of specific persons or groups in the Orders of Battle/ Watchlist, or
26 
simitar documents. For this purpose, the highest-ranking officers or heads of offices
27 
shall be charged with testifying before the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee
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in relation to any inquiries on the Orders of Battle/Watchlist, or similar documents.
29 
The invocation of national security as a defense may not prevent the Joint
30 
Congressional Oversight Committee from inquiring into the factual and/or legal bases
31 
for the existence of an Order of Battle/Watchlist, or any similar document, or the
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inclusion of specific persons or groups in said Orders of Battle/Watchlist, or


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similar documents. Should there be a need to inquire into the factual basis for the
2 
invocation of national security, the Committee shall convene in an executive session
3 
and hear the officials Invoking it. Should the basis not be satisfactory to the
4 
Committee, the public hearings will continue and appropriate recommendations shall
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thereafter be made by the Committee.
6 
Sec. 17. Monitoring of Compliance. - An inter-agency coordinating committee
7 
shall be tasked to periodically monitor the compliance with this Act. The Committee
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shall be headed by the Executive Director of the NDRRMC and shall be composed of:
9 
a) A representative, with the rank of Undersecretary, from the DSWD;
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b) A representative, with the rank of Undersecretary, from the Department of
11 
National Defense 
(DND);
12 
c) A representative, with the rank of Undersecretary, from the Department of
13 
Interior and Local Government (DILG);
14 
d) A representative, with the rank of Undersecretary, from the DOH;
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e) A representative, with the rank of Undersecretary, from the DOJ;
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f) A representative, with the rank of Undersecretary, from the DepEd;
17 
g) A representative from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF);
18 
h) A representative from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
19 
(NCIP);
20 
i) A representative from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace
21 
Process;
22 
The Committee shall work towards the collection of data on the number and
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conditions of IDPs, leading to a registry that will aid the government in efficient
24 
planning and policv-making regarding issues affecting IDPs.
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The Committee shall submit an annual report to the Joint Congressional
26 
Oversight Committee herein created, thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal year.
27 
Such annual report shall be the basis for proposed amendments to existing legislation
28 
to improve the conditions of IDPs.
29 
Sec. 18. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation
30 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the NDRRMC,
31 
CHR, the DSWD, the DOH, the DND, and the DILG. Thereafter, such sums as may be
32 
necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the GAA.
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Sec. 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
2 
the effectivity of this Act, the NDRRMC in coordination with the CHR, DSWD, DND,
3 
DILG, DOH, DOJ, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DepEd,
4 
AFP, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW),
5 
Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), NCIP, National Commission on Disability
6 
Affairs (NCDA), Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP), Housing and Urban
7 
Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), National Housing Authority (NHA), and
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NCMF shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation and
9 
consult with the LGUs concerned, relevant non-governmental human rights
10 
organizations, and people's organizations.
11 
Sec. 20. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be
12 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected
13 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
14 
Sec. 21. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, memorandum
15 
orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances, or parts thereof
16 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or
17 
modified accordingly.
18 
Sec. 22. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
19 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
11