The Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives. (File photo from the Philippine Dailiy Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Internally-displaced persons (IDPs) may soon receive greater protection after the House of Representatives approved on Wednesday the measure that would outline their rights.
House Bill No. 8629 was approved during a plenary session with 212 lawmakers voting in the affirmative and none voting in the negative or abstaining.
Under the measure, internal displacement is defined as “the involuntary movement or forced evacuation or expulsion of any person or group of persons who flee or leave their homes or places of habitual residence, within the national borders” to avoid natural or man-made calamities such as:
- armed conflict
- situations of generalized and/or organized violence
- violations of human rights
- implementation of development projects
- natural, human-induced, and human-made hazards
If House Bill No. 8629 becomes a law, the government would be mandated to protect the rights of IDPs due to natural calamities or man-made disasters by ensuring that their basic needs are provided.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the House’s efforts to protect IDPs’ is proof of their commitment to championing human rights.
“This proposed legislation seeks to guarantee the promotion and protection of the rights of the victims of and non-combatants in armed conflict in accordance with international humanitarian law, international customary law, international human rights laws, and domestic laws,” said Romualdez, one of the bill’s principal authors.
“This bill is a testament to our commitment to champion human rights, particularly the protection of the welfare of internally displaced persons. It does not only enumerate the prohibited acts of arbitrary internal displacement, the bill also imposes penalties and ensures financial assistance to IDPs,” he added.
Based on House Bill No. 8629, the government should protect IDPs by making sure that the following are granted:
- provision and access to basic necessities
- protection against criminal offenses
- freedom of movement
- recognition, issuance, and replacement of documents
- family unity and information about missing persons
- health and education
- property and possessions
- right to participation
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