The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) extends its utmost gratitude to the House of Representatives as it has successfully hurdled the plenary budget deliberations for the FY 2025 budget, with Representative Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong of the 1st District of Negros Oriental as its sponsor, on 17 September 2024.

During the course of interpellations, a number of lawmakers recognized the Commission’s crucial role in proactively responding to the ever-growing and evolving human rights concerns in the country. As the country’s national human rights institution, the CHR has strived to continue standing up for the rights of the weak, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors in the country.

“As we navigate the challenges of our times, the role of CHR remains as vital as ever in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of every Filipino, ensuring that our democracy remains strong and that our commitment to human dignity is unwavering,” Rep. Limkaichong said in her sponsorship speech.

It must be noted that the CHR proposed a total budget of ₱1,799,158,000.00 for FY 2025 in order to consistently deliver services based on its four main pillars—Protection, Promotion, Policy, and Prevention. This proposal, aside from the fulfillment of its primary mandate, is meant to also support the Commission’s additional responsibilities under special laws where it has been delegated with an oversight and support role.

Some of these special laws include: the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012 (RA No. 10353), Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act (RA No. 11188), Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (RA No. 9745), The Magna Carta of Women (RA No. 9710), and the Mental Health Act (RA No. 11036). In total, the CHR has a crucial role to fulfill under 16 special laws and one Executive Order.

While the CHR acknowledges that these special laws are currently being implemented under its current mandate, it has become a reality for the Commission that limitations in both financial resources and staffing has affected its ability to effectively deliver services related to these laws. To further equip the CHR with better service delivery, we hope that our request for special funding will be given due consideration.

We assure the Congress that the budget to be allocated to the Commission will be fully dedicated to promoting a society where every Filipino is guaranteed full protection of their rights, just as how it has always been done.

Under the 2025 National Expenditure Program, the CHR is only allocated ₱1,109,704,000.00—a 38.32 percent decrease from the original proposal.

“There is a renewed commitment from this administration to CHR and the cause of human rights. For this reason, I would like to appeal to my colleagues that CHR’s proposed budget may be strongly considered,” according to Rep. Limkaichong.

The Commission remains hopeful that the Congress, once the General Appropriations Act is passed for the upcoming fiscal year, will be sufficient to provide the necessary budgetary support to ensure the successful implementation of CHR’s mandate, commensurate to the responsibilities being further expanded based on these special laws.

The House’s approval of CHR’s budget is a strong manifestation of the legislative branch’s unwavering commitment to advance the human rights situation in the country. CHR recognizes and thanks the following lawmakers for their manifestations of support for the Commission’s budget:

— Rep. Arlene D. Brosas, for calling for an increased budget to CHR in relation to its special laws, as the country’s human rights watchdog, in order to further protect and promote the rights of the marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged sectors of society;

— Rep. France L. Castro, for acknowledging the efforts of the Commission for proactively providing the comprehensive reports on human rights violations, guided by the principles of transparency;

— Rep. Sergio C. Dagooc, for reiterating his manifestation for the budget of the CHR, while stressing that access to electricity is a human right in itself;

— Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel, for highlighting the CHR’s role as the conscience of the government, thereby calling for the restoration of its proposed budget for FY 2025; and,

— Rep. Presley C. de Jesus, for fully supporting the call to increase the budget of CHR, with full understanding of the plight of victims of human rights violations.

We recognize our lawmakers’ efforts to lobby for an increased budget to further equip the Commission in effectively fulfilling its mandate to create a more humane and just society. In fact, despite the limitations and setbacks faced by the CHR in the previous years, it was able to maintain its Status ‘A’ accreditation as an NHRI, thereby showing its competence and credibility to stand up for the rights and dignity of every Filipino.

Furthermore, a larger funding will also further allow the CHR to align itself with the observations and recommendations of the United Nations, in order to ensure that the Philippines is able to fully comply with human rights standards set at the international level.

We place our confidence in the shared wisdom of the Philippine government, particularly the Congress, that the CHR’s mandate is fully recognized. This will enable the enhanced delivery of services to ensure Filipinos can live in a society where their rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled.

As the government watchdog, monitor, advocate, and educator, the Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to foster a society which champions and uplifts the rights of all, through collaborative effort with the State and its people. ###