MANILA, Philippines ? There is still time to pass the charter of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) if the Senate will work double time in the few remaining days of session next year, one of the authors of the measure said Thursday.

Quezon Representative Lorenzo ?Erin? Tanada III said the House of Representatives passed the bill on third and final reading in October this year but was awaiting the action of the Senate justice and human rights committee headed by Senator Francis ?Chiz? Escudero.

Tañada, chairman of the human rights committee in the House, said the new charter would give more teeth to the country?s independent human rights body.

?The complaint against the CHR before was that it was toothless and dependent on the executive branch because it had limited fiscal autonomy. The CHR was not given the respect it deserves despite its constitutional mandate. The powers of the CHR were not clearly defined.? Tañada lamented.

Under House Bill 6822 (An Act Strengthening the Commission on Human Rights and for other purposes), the CHR is being given prosecutorial powers in case of inaction by concerned agencies. It also gives the body full fiscal autonomy, visitorial powers, and a witness protection program.

The bill also removes the prescriptive period on the investigation of cases of human rights violations.

Under the measure, the CHR will be known as the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI).

Congress is on break and will resume sessions on January 18. It will hold sessions only for three weeks before it adjourns for the start of the campaign period for the May 2010 election.