THE House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday successfully held the briefing on the P1.2-billion proposed budget of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for 2025 despite the bad weather, with a commitment from lawmakers to augment the agency’s funding to enable it to implement Republic Act 10353 or the “Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012.”
Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said Section 30 of RA 10353 appropriated P10 million for the law’s initial implementation with subsequent funding to be included in the respective budgets of the CHR and the Department of Justice in the annual General Appropriations Act for its continuing implementation.
Despite this, Brosas reviewed the CHR’s proposed budget for 2025 and found that nothing has been allocated for RA 10353’s implementation.
She described the situation as worrisome, especially since the human rights group Karapatan has documented 14 cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances in 2023 and this year.
“Concerned lang po ako sa desaparecidos tapos walang budget (para sa RA 10353 implementation) so talagang mahirap,” she said.
At the proper time, Brosas said they will raise an amendment to the CHR to provide funding for the implementation of RA 10353.
CHR budget sponsor and Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong noted that there are several unfunded laws in the country, especially those that expand or add responsibilities to concerned agencies.
“Pero kulang yung budget na binibigay. It’s not commensurate to the additional responsibility that’s given to the CHR. So it is incumbent upon Congress that in due time, we can probably augment or whatever is the best solution, in order that those unfunded laws can be properly implemented,” she said.
CHR Chair Richard Palpal-latoc said for 2025, there is no specific amount allocated for RA 10353’s continuing implementation.
“Ito nga ho yung isa sa hinihingi namin (na budget). Malaki ho siyang task. Ang ginawa ho namin ay sinama namin yung budget for this mandate doon sa aming prevention functions para sa jail visits and inspections,” he said.
Committee appropriations senior vice chair and Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo said the CHR’s proposed budget stands at P1.2 billion with P1.1 billion coming from new appropriations.
“This increase though modest is testament to our commitment to upholding the principles of human rights across all sectors of society. In 2023, the CHR demonstrated its dedication to its mandate with nearly full utilization of its budget for its core programs — human rights protection, human rights promotion, and human rights policy advisory. These programs are the backbone of CHR’s efforts to investigate human rights violations, provide legal aid, and develop policies that safeguard the rights of our citizens. The efficient management of these programs shows that when given the necessary resources, the CHR can deliver on its mandate effectively,” she said.
Limkaichong said the CHR is not merely a guardian of human rights as it also serves as a refuge for the disadvantaged, marginalized and the vulnerable sectors of society.
