THE Iloilo Provincial Board has approved on third and final reading Ordinance 2021-253, which seeks to establish a human rights action center in every local government unit (LGU) in Iloilo.
Third District Board Member Matt Palabrica, author of the ordinance, said the measure intends to establish the center where complainants about 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," said Palabrica.
There is an initial funding of P1 million and an annual allocation from the General Fund of the province.
The initial fund allocated will be used for the operation of the established desk.
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. It means that the team will be composed of the legal officer, or whoever will be appointed by the local chief executive, social welfare and development officer, planning and development officer, and information officer. It should be participated by a representative from the civil society organization, a non-government organization, or a people's organization.
The organization must have accreditation from the LGUs, Iloilo Provincial Government, or the Commission on Human Rights. It must be an advocate of human rights.
The crafted ordinance came from an idea from CHR. A Joint Memorandum Circular was issued last 2014 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and CHR directing the establishment of desks from the province, 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 said.
Provincial Ordinance 2021-253 is titled "An Ordinance to Promote and Protect Human Rights in the Province of Iloilo by Establishing Local Human Rights Action Centers at Every Level of Local Government Unit in the Province of Iloilo, and Providing Funds Thereof."
The sponsor of the ordinance is Fifth District Board Member Carol-V Espinosa-Diaz. It was co-sponsored by Vice Governor Christine Garin, Third District Board Member Jason Gonzales, Fourth District Board Member Domingo Oso Jr., and First District Board Member Renee Valencia. (PR)