MANILA – A lawmaker on Tuesday sought for the restoration of the original budget proposal of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for 2025 amounting to PHP1.799 billion.
During the plenary deliberations, Negros Oriental 1ST District Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong said the allocation by the Department of Budget and Management is PHP1.109 billion, which is 38.32 percent lower than CHR’s original proposal.
"Numerous recent laws have introduced additional responsibilities without providing the necessary funding to support them," Limkaichong said, according to a news release.
Limkaichong, the budget sponsor, pointed out that based on the CHR’s computation, PHP271.607 million will be needed to fund special laws and broader mandates.
"There are actually 16 now. Mga special law na umaabot na ng PHP271 million 'yung kukulangin (There are special laws requiring PHP271 million) in order for that to be operational," Limkaichong said, adding that the last time the commission received funding for the special laws was in 2022 in the amount of PHP5 million.
Limkaichong said the budget cuts would result in financial assistance being reduced from PHP30,000 to PHP10,000, restricted legal expenses, and cuts in traveling expenses which will affect investigations, operations and insurance costs.
She said confidential funds, essential for discreet investigations of high-profile and grave human rights violations, have also been slashed.
"We recommend, our dear colleagues, to strongly support the augmentation of the CHR's budget and to restore it to its PHP1.799 billion proposed budget," Limkaichong said.
The maintenance and other operating expenses will likewise be affected, impacting critical human rights protection services, including jail visitation programs, she said.
Limkaichong reminded about the special provision in the 2025 General Appropriations Bill, authorizing the release of trust receipts under Republic Act 10368, or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, to support the establishment and operation of memorials, museums, libraries and compendiums for human rights violations victims. (PNA)
