Yesterday, the Philippine House of Representatives approved a budget of PHP508.5 million (approx US$10 million) for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) during the third and final reading of the country’s 2018 budget.
This comes two weeks after Congress approved a CHR budget worth $20. Many Filipinos, including CHR chief Chito Gascon, who called it a “whimsical and capricious display of vindictiveness.”
After meeting with Gascon and other Gascon and representatives of other agencies who initially received a similar budget cut, the congressional appropriations committee moved to restore CHR’s proposed budget to PHP678 million (US$13.3 million).
But based on yesterday’s vote, more than PHP100 million (approx. US$2 million) will be cut from the proposed budget.
Opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman said today that the approved budget will not be enough for CHR to conduct all its responsibilities. “With its slashed budget, the CHR will be hampered in its human rights protection and promotion of advocacy and programs,” he said.
The CHR budget is part of the country’s total budget of PHP3.8 trillion (US$74.6 billion) for next year (a 12% increase from 2017). According to the Department of Budget and Mangement, the government will prioritize funding for education and infrastructure projects.
The House is expected to pass the proposed budget today. It will then be reconciled with the Senate’s version of next year’s budget.
