SP passes human rights action center ordinance

Every level of local government unit in the province of Iloilo will soon establish human rights action center.

This, after the 13th Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo approved on third and final reading Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-253.

3^rd District Board Member Matt Palabrica, who authored the ordinance, said the measure intends to establish a center or a venue where complainants for human rights violations will be accommodated.

“There must be a center where people can go to and report their complaints about human rights violations. The dignity of a person and respect of each other is important, and this is the intent of the ordinance,” Palabrica said.

The ordinance set aside an initial P1-million funding for the establishment of the HR action centers and annual allocation from the General Fund.

The initial fund allocated will be used for the operation of the established desks. A team will handle the human rights action center, and a committee will take charge of the policies governing the local human rights action center.

The composition of a team at the provincial level is the same at the municipal and barangay level.

The team will be composed of the legal officer, or whoever will be appointed by the local chief executive; the social welfare and development officer, the planning and development officer, and the information officer.

It must also include a representative from the civil society organization, a non-government organization, or a people’s organization.

The organization must have accreditation from the local government units, the Iloilo Provincial Government, or the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). It must also be an advocate of human rights.

The CHR broached the passing of the ordinance. A Joint Memorandum Circular was issued last 2014 by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and CHR directing the establishment of desks in provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays.

“The Provincial Legal Office is thankful, after a long time, that there is now a human rights action center that will address the concerns of the many people asking for their help,” Palabrica added.

The sponsor of the ordinance is 5th District Board Member Carol-V Espinosa-Diaz. It was co-sponsored by Vice Governor Christine “Tingting” Garin, 3rd District Board Member Jason Gonzales, 4th District Board Member Domingo Oso, Jr., and 1st District Board Member Renee Valencia.

(Bert Ladera)