CHR thanks lawmakers for 2023 budget hike: Big boost for operations

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has thanked lawmakers from both the House of Representatives and the Senate for supporting calls to increase the agency’s budget, saying that a higher allocation would go a long way toward protecting human rights.

The CHR said in a statement on Tuesday — a day after the Senate approved its budget — that a P1.6 billion budget for 2023 would support their operations as they are requesting a P20-million item for its new office as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) found out that the soil condition underneath it is unstable.

Also, a part of the budget would also be allocated toward widening the CHR scope of work regarding mental health, climate change, and human rights education.

“CHR hopes that the anticipated increase restores the budget for its Personnel Services; Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses; and Capital Outlay to its FY 2022 level. This is an additional P117.8 million so that CHR can effectively and efficiently deliver its Protection, Promotion, Policy, and Prevention mandates.  CHR also requested an additional P20 million budget for its new Central Office building,” CHR said.

“CHR sought to, among others, widen the work on mental health; climate change and its impact to human rights; human rights education through the envisioned CHR Human Rights Institute; investigations of violations of international humanitarian law; and including the broadening other CHR services, such as legal and financial aid to victims of human rights abuses,” it added.

The CHR proposed a P1.646 billion budget for 2023, but only P846.3 million was given to the commission under the 2023 National Expenditures Program (NEP) from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

This meant that if the NEP is followed, CHR’s budget for 2023 would be lower than the P964.7 million given to the agency in the 2022 General Appropriations Act.

READ: CHR finds House allies in bid for higher budget 

“During the course of the debates, a number of solons from both HOR and Senate expressed support in increasing CHR budget for FY 2023 — noting that the agency’s budget under the 2023 National Expenditure Program (P846,377 million) is lower than its allocation under FY 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA; P964,703 million),” CHR said.

“Providing a larger funding will ultimately demonstrate the commitment of the government in improving the human rights situation in the country, further considering the observations of the UN Human Rights Council; the recommendations during the Universal Periodic Review; and the goals of the UN Joint Program on Human Rights,” it added.

The CHR said it is cautiously optimistic about its chances of having a bigger budget for 2022.

“We are cautiously optimistic on the prospects of an increased budget for FY 2023. CHR trusts that the collective wisdom of Congress, as well as the eventual signing of the President of the GAA, will eventually result in substantial support for the mandate of CHR,” the commission said.

“Regardless of the circumstance, the Commission continues to commit to actively engaging and collaborating with the government, as well as the civil society, in ensuring the rights of all are upheld and the dignity and plight of those who have it least will be uplifted,” it added. With reports from Trisha Manalaysay, trainee

JPV/abc