The Senate Committee on Finance adopted the Commission on Human Rights’ (CHR) proposed budget for FY 2020 on Tuesday, 15 September 2020. The CHR’s budget was presented by Chairperson Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon and Executive Director Jacqueline Ann de Guia.
In his presentation, Chairperson Gascon expressed the Commission’s gratitude to the members of the Senate for championing the mandate of the CHR.
“We are grateful to the honorable members of the Senate, particularly the Chair (Senator Panfilo Lacson), who has always been a champion of the mandate of the CHR during this current term. As we have appeared before you in previous years, you have defended our budget before the floor and we are grateful for that,” said Chair Gascon.
The CHR’s proposed FY 2021 budget amounts to PhP 860,501,000 pesos, a slight increase from the 2020 budget due to the increase in CHR personnel services. The increase is geared towards the enhanced delivery of human rights services particularly to strengthen services addressing migrant workers’ rights, gender-based violence, child rights, and to uphold climate justice. The budget shall also help the CHR with its additional mandate in the implementation of the mental health law; monitoring the implementation of the Bayanihan Act 2; strengthening the institution, among others.
Present during the deliberation were committee Vice Chairperson Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Senator Imee Marcos, and Senator Franklin Drilon.
In her interpellation, Senator Imee Marcos asked about the CHR actions in relation to the Commission on Audit (COA) findings, particularly on the travel bookings with Konai travel airs, which failed to attach required canvass of suppliers.
Executive Director Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia explained that the trips in question were urgent and were unforeseen in nature.
“Majority of those travels were procured for the investigation of the Zamboanga siege and the Marawi siege and 7 were done because of forensic exhumations our autopsies. Therefore, the nature of those trips and travels were urgent and unforeseen. For those that are predictable, programmed, and can be foreseen, we have made sure that we undertook procurement of airline tickets through the General Fair Agreement prescribed by COA”, she explained.
Executive Director de Guia also stressed that the travels purchased from Konai travel airs comprised only 8% of the total travel allocation—approximately 10 million out of the 125 million for the past three years. COA has given CHR a 2019 unmodified rating for satisfactorily answering the findings in accordance with the COA standard.
For his part, Senator dela Rosa expressed his full support to CHR budget as well as in increasing its proposed budget. He also commended the CHR’s strong condemnation of the twin bombings in Jolo last August.
“I am fully supporting your budget. Kung gusto niyong dagdagan ‘yan, suporta pa rin ako. I am very happy with your public condemnation of the twin bombings of Jolo… Maraming salamat po. Huwag po kayong mag-alala, suportado ko kayo at all cost,” he said.
In conclusion, Chair Gascon highlighted that CHR budget priorities endeavors to respond to the current issues that beset the country especially in relation to the pandemic towards furthering the dignity and rights of all in this period health crisis. ###