CHR seeks 112-percent increase in budget

MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair Leila de Lima has requested a 112-percent increase in the agency’s budget for 2009, from the proposed P253.316 million to P537 million in order to improve the promotion of the rights of the people.

“There is so much to do and can be done in the protection and promotion of human rights, but the CHR lacks logistical support. The commission does not even have its own building, and is just renting an old, condemned one,” De Lima said.

She said the Office of the President has proposed P253.316 million for the commission’s 2009 budget, but this covers only the salaries and operating expenses of personnel excluding funds for capital outlay or the procurement of service vehicles, and money to rent new office space. She said the CHR is asking for an additional P284 million.

“But the CHR bats for its Maintenance and Office Operating Expenses (MOOE) worth P253.316 million and capital outlay in the amount of P284 million,” De Lima explained.

In asking a 112-percent increase in their budget for next year, De Lima stressed that there is a need for the human rights body to establish an independent forensic center in order to enhance the credibility of its investigative and monitoring powers.

De Lima said the CHR plans to purchase new service vehicles for its regional offices in order to improve the investigation units, as well as revitalize the Barangay Human Rights Action Center (BHRAC) program and strengthen the commission’s specialized centers – the Women’s Human Rights Center (WHRC) and Children’s Rights Center (CRC).

“There is a need for the CHR to put up the independent forensic center because imagine what the implications would be if the persons that we investigate are the uniformed personnel themselves, as the abusers, but we rely on their own forensic findings? It’s quite absurd,” she said.

The CHR also plans to promote human rights awareness at the grassroots level through the BHRAC program.

“All these entail increased funds for MOOE and capital outlay so we were asking such funds in our proposal,” De Lima also said.

She reported that with the CHR’s education and advocacy program undertaken with the help of the Commission’s partners such as the Department of Education, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and non-government organizations, more Filipinos were made aware and assertive of their rights.

“We also need to be more proactive. Our efforts and actions should be felt by the people, especially the victims and the vulnerable sectors who comprise the CHR clientele,” De Lima said.

“With the voluminous work and most of the time nearly impossible missions, hard work and dedication are not enough. We need logistic support to be more effective in our efforts to make a difference in the lives people,” she said.