House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives has unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill that would provide financial assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and adopt a human rights-based approach for the promotion and protection of their rights. 

Embodied in House Bill (HB) No. 8269, the measure was approved on the strength of 212 congressmen voting in the affirmative during plenary session Wednesday, Aug. 2. 

“This proposed legislation seeks to guarantee the promotion and protection of the rights of the victims of and non-combatants in armed conflict in accordance with international humanitarian law, international customary law, international human rights laws, and domestic laws,” Speaker Martin Romualdez, one of the principal authors, said. 

“This bill is a testament of our commitment to champion human rights, particularly the protection of the welfare of internally displaced persons. It does not only enumerate the prohibited acts of arbitrary internal displacement, the bill also imposes penalties and ensures financial assistance to IDPs,” added the House chieftain and Leyte’s 1st district representative. 

IDPs are persons who have to leave their homes due to armed conflict, generalized violence, clan wars, violations of human rights, implementation of development projects, natural, human-induced and human-made hazards. 

The proposed law also sets up a system of providing financial assistance to IDPs and monetary compensation for the damages inflicted on the IDPs arising from arbitrary internal displacement and facilitates international humanitarian assistance to IDPs. 

In giving final approval to HB No.8269, the chamber upheld the principles enshrined in the 1987 Constitution, the standards set by the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and human rights laws, international treaties and conventions adhered to by the Philippines, and international customary law, including the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (UNGPID). 

The bill defines arbitrary internal displacement as an act committed which causes displacement and that is contrary to law, good morals, public order, or policy or committed with abuse of authority, oppressive or wanton disregard of the rights or property and abode of residents, whether permanent or temporary, in which they are lawfully present. 

Some of the authors of the bill are Reps. Bienvenido Abante, Yedda Marie Romualdez, Jude Acidre, Zia Alonto Adiong, Jaye Lacson Noel, Yasser Alonto Balindong, Gus Tambunting, Rufus Rodriguez, Reynante Arrogancia, Edward Vera Perez Maceda, Jose Maria Zubiri, Jr., Edcel Lagman, Jose Manuel Alba, Arjo Atayde, Raymond Democrito Mendoza, and Ron Salo. 

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is the institutional focal point for the IDPs, and prescribes the powers of monitoring the conditions of IDPs under the bill. 

The bill also proposes an inter-agency coordinating committee co-headed by the chairperson of the CHR and the executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.