CBD in Region 6
CBD Institutionalization and Core Group Strengthening in Antique Province

PROCESS Foundation Panay

The face-to-face activity was attended by 27 participants representing the core group members (CHR, PNP, AFP, CSOs, LGU) and other relevant stakeholders, secretariat and HSF (via online). 

For this activity, the objectives were as follows: (i) update the participants on the gains / status of CBD implementation, (ii) agree on the reporting protocol for human rights issues involving the community and civil society organizations (CSOs), and formulate an action plan how to make the CBD mechanism functional.

Presentations were made on the summary of issues and proposed actions that were identified in previous CBD sessions, and updates, as well as the Memo of Agreement/Understanding between and among CBD partner institutions/agencies.

A representative from the Provincial Government discussed the salient features of Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-252 (“Ordinance promoting and protecting human rights in the province of Antique by Establishing Local Human Rights Action Centers (HRACs) at Every Level of Local Government in the province”).  While a representative from the San Jose municipal government discussed Resolution No. 07, Series of 2020 expressing support to, and enjoining local government units to be actively involved and become the prime movers in the conduct of community-based dialogue sessions. 

Fisherfolk representative discussing illegal issues to the PNP provincial Human Rights Affairs Officer

PROCESS Foundation Panay

Key areas of concern in the province were tackled concerning the fisherfolk, indigenous people, and migrant sugar workers (“sakadas”). Representatives of these marginalized sectors presented issues and concerns regarding their situation to wit: rampant illegal fishing activities, “Bantay Dagat” (coastal law enforcement) Task Force not functional, provide livelihood to indigenous people (IPs) and scholarship to their children, minors working as “sakadas,” among others.

During the action planning session, strategies/interventions were identified to address the issues and enhance human rights-related service delivery to marginalized sectors.

The CBD project is a partnership of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Alternative Law Groups (ALG), and Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation/Germany (HSF).