FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. '2452 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The protection of human rights is essential to any country that calls itself 
democratic. Governrnents 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 crirninal 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 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
~.~~::.'~"l: t 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
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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 2010". 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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 Govemor but 
the planning, policy-making and implementation shall be done with transparency and 
accountability. However, the Regional Office of the Commission on Hurnan 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. 
SECTION 4. Functions of the Human Resource Centers. - The Human Resource 
Centers shall have the following functions: 
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(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 
rnaterials 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 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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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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