San Fernando City, LA UNION—The regional office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Region I is set to finally have its own building after the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Human Rights Project grants funding for its construction in San Fernando City, La Union.
Situated within the Provincial Capitol Complex, the envisioned CHR building will have three floors complete with sections for CHR’s regional personnel, as well as a conference room and other facilities for the Commission’s frontline services.
The 253 square-metre lot is under a 25-year lease contract with the Provincial Government of La Union. The building is set to be completed after a year. GOJUST allocated PHP 15 million for the building construction, with a counterpart funding from CHR for other building facilities.
Once completed, CHR Region I will be moving from its old location at the Ed Fabro Building, also situated in San Fernando City, to the new site at the Provincial Capitol Complex.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday, 29 May 2018, which was attended by CHR Commissioners Karen Gomez-Dumpit, Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, and Leah Tanondra-Armamento; CHR Executive Director, Atty. Jacqueline Ann C. de Guia; CHR Field Operations Office Director, Atty. Homero Matthew P. Rusiana; and, the officers and personnel of CHR Region I and Central Office. A representative from GOJUST, Ms. Yolanda Rodriguez O’brien of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) also graced the event, with Director Ronnel M. Tan of the Department of Public Works and Highways – Region I, and Ms. Nancy Bacurnay of the La Union provincial government.
GOJUST is a project of the Philippine government funded by the European Union and the AECID. It seeks to “contribute to inclusive growth and poverty reduction through strengthened justice system,” particularly by “increasing the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the formal justice system.” Its fourth component is focused on strengthening the capacity of National Human Rights Institutions and civil society organisations in promoting accountability and fighting impunity in the face of major human rights violations. ■