Human Rights and Sustainable Human Development in

Philippine Local Governments

A Special Session Presentation

Annabelle C. Tangson,CPA,MGM Mayor

National President of Lady Municipal Mayors Association of the Philippines and the Philippines International

Sisterhood and Twinning Association

Outline

• Human rights concerns in the Philippines

• Ensuring the right to development in San Luis

• Public servants and government must always be close to the people

• Rights based and good governance

Concerns about rights in the Philippines

• Reproductive health and rights – Supreme Court recently declared that the RH law (Republic Act 10354) is constitutional, now services must be delivered to fulfill these rights.

• Human rights in times of disasters particularly women who become victims of gender based violence. Girls and relocation sites are reported trafficked.

Concerns about rights in the Philippines

• Rights of the most vulnerable need more attention, laws to be implemented for Senior Citizens, Persons and Children with Disability, and Indigenous peoples.

• Political and media related killings happen

• Compensation of human rights victims and claims of coconut farmers from levy funds are current discussions in the Philippines.

Mandates

• Philippine Constitution Bill of Rights

• Government has a Commission on Human Rights

• Philippines is signatory to many International Human Rights conventions and treaties

The Philippines is signatory to a number of United Nations human rights treaties, including:

1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR);2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified on 23

October 1986;3. United Nations Convention Against Torture, acceded to on 18 June 1986;4. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,

ratified on 15 September 1967;5. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ratified

on 7 June 1974;6. United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant

Workers and Members of Their Families, ratified on 5 July 1995;7. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against

Women, ratified on 5 August 1981;8. Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified on 21 August 1990; and,9. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified on 15 April

2008.

In local governance the rights of the most vulnerable,

particularly women is very

important.

Likewise, the rights of the child, rights of persons with

disability, indigenous peoples, and the elderly.

Reference Slide: Laws of Women’s Rights in the Philippines

• RA 6725 (April 27, 1989)An Act Strengthening the Prohibition on Discrimination Against Women with Respect to Terms and Conditions of Employment, Amending for the Purpose Article One Hundred Thirty-Five of the Labor Code, As Amended

• RA 6972 (November 23, 1990)An Act Establishing a Day Care Center in Every Barangay Instituting Therein a Total Development and Protection of Children Program, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes

• RA 7192 (December 11, 1991)An Act Promoting the Integration of Women as Full and Equal Partners of Men in Development and Nation Building and for Other Purposes

• RA 7322 (March 30, 1992)An Act Increasing Maternity Benefits in Favor of Women Workers in the Private Sector, Amending for the Purpose Section 14-A of Republic Act No. 1161, as Amended and for Other Purposes

• RA 7600 (June 17, 1992)An Act Requiring All Government and Private Health Institutions with Obstetrical Services to Adopt Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Practices and for Other Purposes

•

Reference Slide: Laws of Women’s Rights in the Philippines

• RA 7822 (February 20, 1995)An Act Providing Assistance to Women Engaging in Micro and Cottage Business Enterprises, and for Other Purposes

• RA 8353 (September 30, 1997) – this includes marital rapeAn Act Expanding the Definition of the Crime of Rape, Reclassifying the Same as a Crime Against Persons, Amending for the Purpose Act No. 3815, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Revised Penal Code, and for Other Purposes

• RA 8369 (October 28, 1997)An Act Establishing Family Courts, granting Them Exclusive Original Jurisdiction Over Child and Family Cases, Amending Batas Pambansa No. 192, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes

• RA 9262 (March 8, 2004)An Act Defining Violence Against Women and Their Children, Providing Protective Measures for Victims, Prescribing Penalties Therefor and for Other Purposes

Right to Development in the Philippines, San Luis in

perspective

People at the Center of Development

- A key requirement on the UN Declaration on

the Right to Development:

People in their own communities know best, local solutions are best.

Ensuring free, active and meaningful

participation- A key requirement on the UN

Declaration on the Right to Development:We visit each and

every village on a regular basis. We listen and we take action.

We respond to what the people want.

Securing Non Discrimination- A key requirement on the UN

Declaration on the Right to Development:

Everyone is a citizen, everyone has a right to participate, everyone deserves service from government.

Fairly distributing the benefits of development

- A key requirement on the UN Declaration on the Right to Development:

We bring benefits to the people, pro actively, without discrimination

Respecting Self determination, and sovereignty over natural resources

- A key requirement on the UN Declaration on the Right to Development:

Local governments enables people’s self determination to sustainably use local natural resources

Civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are respected,

protected and fulfilled - A key requirement on the

UN Declaration on the Right to Development:

We plan together, we listen to the silent voices because we believe that we should always respect, protect and fulfill human rights

Local Governments works closely with the people.

Go to the people,Live among them,Learn from them,Plan with them,Work with them,

- First five lines, Credo for Rural Reconstruction

Meeting with people

where they are.

Go to the people,

Live among them,Learn from them,Plan with them,Work with them,

- First five lines, Credo for Rural Reconstruction

Feeling what the people are going through.

Go to the people,

Live among them,Learn from them,Plan with them,Work with them,

- First five lines, Credo for Rural Reconstruction

Because we consult, we learn, the

people are the experts

on local development, We serve,

Go to the people,

Live among them,Learn from them,Plan with them,Work with them,

- First five lines, Credo for Rural Reconstruction

Planning together to

move in one direction.

Go to the people,

Live among them,Learn from them,Plan with them,Work with them,

- First five lines, Credo for Rural Reconstruction

Teamwork works. We all

have a role and a

responsibility.

Go to the people,

Live among them,Learn from them,Plan with them,Work with them,

- First five lines, Credo for Rural Reconstruction

San Luis is a 2nd class municipality with 18 barangays

with 102 sitios and puroks. Our income the past year was

PhP119,966,632.75 (FY 2013).

With modest resources, discipline and drive we

achieved the following:

1. SLGR Average Score of 4.89

2. Sound financial management (absence of an

adverse or a disclaimer COA opinion on local

financial transaction)

3. Observance of Full Disclosure Policy

In 2011 San Luis was awarded the SEAL OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

The Seal of Good

Housekeeping recognizes

LGU San Luis with good

performance in internal

housekeeping focusing

in four areas, namely: (1)

Good Planning; (2) Sound

Fiscal Management; (3)

Transparency and

Accountability; and (4)

Valuing of Performance

Information.

DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II conferred to

the municipal government of San Luis,

under the leadership of Mayor Annabelle C.

Tangson, the coveted Gawad Pamana ng

Lahi award for Central Luzon during the

awarding ceremony titled “Gawad Pagkilala

sa Natatanging Pamamahala” held at the

Oxford Hotel, Clarkfield, Pampanga last

October 24, 2012.

2013 Best LGU in

Customer Relations

Given last April 14, 2014 on

the occasion of the “8th

Recognition of Outstanding

Central Luzon LGUs

Implementing the Streamlining

Program in the Issuance of

Mayors Permits

Municipality of San Luis, Aurora- No. 6 TOP PERFORMING MUNICIPALITY IN THE PHILIPPINES

FOR 2011

TOP PERFORMING MUNICIPALITY IN REGION 3 for Profile Years 2010, 2011

and 2012

- Municipal Civil Registrar’s Office of San

Luis was awarded as 1ST Place for both

National and Regional Level Extra-Small

Category in Performance of Delivery of Civil

Registration Services.

LGU of San Luis was awarded as 2012 Most

Outstanding LGU Implementing the Issuance of

Mayor’s Permit

The Bureau of Local Government Finance Region III awarded the

Municipality of San Luis for achieving 351.01% collection

efficiency on other income and rank no. 1 among the

municipalities of province of Aurora for CY 2011.

Conclusion

• Human rights in governance is very important

• Public servants respect, protect and fulfill the right of every constituent to development

• Heed the voice of the people, pay attention and act immediately.

• A rights based approach leads to participation, transparency and accountability - good governance