14‘h CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
1“REGULAR SESSION 
) 
Introduced bv Senator Aauilino Q. Pimentel. Jr. 
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 
A&UILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR. 


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14'~ Congress of 
Republic 
of 
lst 
Regular Session 
the 
) 
the 
Philippines ) 
Introduced by SENATOR AQUlLlNO Q. PIMENTEL, JR. 
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 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Human Rights Resource 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Center Act of 2007". 
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. 
SECTlON3. 
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. 


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SECTION 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 andlor 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; 
(9 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; 
(9) 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. 
lmplernenting Rules and Regulations. - The CHR, in consultation, 
cowdination 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 


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r6cognized 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,