HUMAN  RIGHTS  CENTERS  MANAGEMENT  OFFICE  

CENTER  FOR  CRISIS,  CONFLICT,  AND  HUMANITARIAN  PROTECTION  
 
 
National  Inquiry  on  the  Human  Rights  Situation  of  
Internally  Displaced  Persons  (IDPs)  in  the  Philippines  
 
Public  Hearing  Guidance  Note  
   
Through   the   Center   for   Crisis,   Conflict,   and   Humanitarian   Protection   (CCCHP)   of   the   Human  
Rights   Centers   Management   Office   (HRCMO)   and   the   Regional   Offices,   the   Commission   on  
Human  Rights  (CHR)  is  currently  undertaking  a  National  Inquiry  on  the  Human  Rights  Situation  
of   Internally   Displaced   Persons.   The   National   Inquiry,   through   inter-­‐agency   consultations  
stakeholder’s   discussions,   desk   review   of   relevant   agencies’   mandate   in   IDP   protection,   and  
national  hearings,  aims  to:  
 MAN  
1. Come   up   with   a   thorough   and   evidence-­‐based   review   and   assessment   of   the  
current  structures  in  place  as  regards  humanitarian  assistance  for  IDPs;  
 
2. Identify  gaps  in  the  delivery  of  humanitarian  services  for  displaced  communities,  
particularly   those   involving   the   protection   of   civil   and   political   rights,   and  
economic,  social,  and  cultural  rights;  
 
3. Identify   the   effects   of   the   COVID-­‐19   pandemic,   or   other   sudden   onset   public  
health  phenomena,  on  the  current  IDP  protection  structure;  
 
4. Provide  government  agencies  with  recommendations  that  should  respond  to  the  
short-­‐term,  medium-­‐term,  and  long-­‐term  needs  of  displaced  populations,  in  view  
of  their  achievement  of  durable  solutions;  and  
 
5. Come  up  with  information  that  will  feed  into  the  Commission’s  development  of  
an   IDP   Evaluation   Tool   that   government   agencies   can   use   to   ensure   that   their  
response  is  compliant  with  human  rights  and  humanitarian  standards.  
   
The   inquiry   is   composed   of   four   interrelated   parts,   namely,   interagency   consultations,   desk  
review  of  agency’s  charters  and  citizen  charters,  survey,  and    public  hearings.  
   
In   2019,   interagency   consultations   ran   from   April   to   September.1   The   series   of   consultations  
were  conducted  in  Manila,  Butuan  City,  Zamboanga  City,  and  Tacloban  City.  The  said  areas  were  
chosen   to   ensure   that   the   national   agencies   as   well   as   regional   agencies   that   deal   with  
displacement   issues   are   well   represented.     The   aim   of   the   consultation   is   to   map   out   the   legal  
frameworks   in   which   relevant   government   agencies   operate.   During   the   consultations,  
government   agencies   shared   their   mandates   including   their   roles   and   functions   related   to   the  
protection  of  IDP  rights.  

1  CHR  Consolidated  Inter-­‐Agency  Consultation  Minutes  of  Meeting.  

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National  Inquiry  on  the  Human  Rights  Situation  of  Internally  Displaced  Persons  (IDPs)  in  the  Philippines  
Public  Hearing  Guidance  Note  
Center  for  Crisis,  Conflict,  and  Humanitarian  Protection  
Commission  on  Human  Rights  of  the  Philippines  
    
Consequently,   the   CCCHP,   through   its   IDP   consultant,   conducted   a   desk   review   of   the   various  
government   agencies’   mandate   on   IDP   protection.2   Data   came   from   the   findings   of   the  
consultation   as   well   as   from   open   sources   from   government   websites.   The   review   found   that  
various   agencies   are   involved   in   the   protection   of   IDPs’   human   rights   through   varying  
mechanisms  and  mandates.  The  Office  of  Civil  Defense  (OCD)  has  a  large  part  to  play  through  RA  
10121,   or   the   Philippine   Disaster   Risk   Reduction   and   Management   Act,   which   is   the   primary  
existing   framework   for   the   government’s   response   to   natural   and   man-­‐made   disasters   and  
whose  protocols  are  the  most  relevant  to  the  rights  of  IDPs.  The  Department  of  Social  Welfare  
and   Development   (DSWD)   also   provides   services   to   IDPs   as   the   primary   agency   mandated   to  
develop,   implement,   and   coordinate   social   protection   and   poverty-­‐reducing   solutions   through  
provision  of  food  and  non-­‐food  assistance,  especially  during  emergencies.  Other  agencies  such  
as  the  Department  of  Education  (DepEd),  the  Department  of  Health  (DOH),  the  Department  of  
Interior   and   Local   Government   (DILG),   and   the   Philippine   National   Police   (PNP)   also   all   have  
key  roles  to  play  in  safeguarding  IDPs’  rights.  .    
   
The   CCCHP   also   conducted   a   survey,   inquiring   with   civil   society   organizations   (CSOs)   and   other  
non-­‐government  organizations  the  pressing  and  prevailing  human  rights  issues  of  IDPs  in  their  
areas  of  operation.  The  survey  results  show  that  most  IDPs  encounter  issues  such  as  inadequate  
protection  from  displacements,  uncertain  achievement  of  durable  solutions,  lacking  provisions  
or  access  to  basic  needs  such  as  adequate  shelter,  food,  and  water,  and  sanitation  and  hygiene  
(WASH)   facilities.   Other   issues   involved   alleged   discrimination,   violations   of   rights   of   women  
and   children   and   of   rights   of   indigenous   peoples,   limited   movement,   challenges   in   achieving  
family   unity,   difficulty   in   reconstituting   identity   documents,   and   limited   protection   against  
grave  human  rights  violations.  
 
An   added   aspect   of   investigation   for   this   National   Inquiry   is   to   examine   how   the   COVID-­‐19  
pandemic   has   affected   IDPs   and   their   enjoyment   of   rights.   The   pandemic   has   put   an   extra  
burden  on  the  shoulders  of  IDPs,  as  the  conditions  in  which  they  live  in  often  make  them  more  
vulnerable   to   contract   the   virus.3   IDP   camps   tend   to   be   crowded   and   not   conducive   to   social  
distancing,   making   it   difficult   for   them   to   follow   social   distancing.   As   mentioned,   clean   water  
and   suitable   WASH   facilities,   which   are   key   to   fighting   the   virus,   are   lacking   or   inadequate.   IDPs  
also  tend  not  to  have  reliable  and  consistent  access  to  healthcare  and  to  adequate  information  
on  COVID-­‐19.  
 
 Many  IDPs  have  lost  their  livelihoods  during  the  pandemic  due  to  lockdowns,  forcing  them  to  
rely   on   government   assistance,   which   has   often   been   noted   to   be   insufficient.   This   was   even  
more  so  during  the  pandemic  where  IDP  needs  are  heightened.  These  issues,  in  addition  to  the  
challenges  faced  by  humanitarian  or  governmental  partners  in  accessing  IDP  communities  due  
to   lockdowns,   travel   restrictions,   and   safety   measures,   have   created   further   impediments   in  
ensuring  and  promoting  IDP  rights.    
 
 
I.             Objectives  of  the  Public  Hearing  
   
In  view  of  the  overall  structure  of  the  National  Inquiry,  and  in  the  exercise  of  the  CHR’s  mandate  
to   investigate   human   rights   situations   in   the   country,   the   proposed   Public   Hearings   will  
particularly  aim  to  achieve  the  following  objectives.  
   

2  CHR  Desk  Review  of  Mechanisms  and  Agency  Mandates  on  the  Rights  of  Internally  Displaced  Persons.  
3  Commission  on  Human  Rights  Quarterly  COVID-­‐19  Emergency  Situation  in  IDP  Areas  in  Eastern  Visayas  and  

Mindanao,  January-­‐March  2021,  CHR  (V)  No.  POL2021-­‐005  

 
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National  Inquiry  on  the  Human  Rights  Situation  of  Internally  Displaced  Persons  (IDPs)  in  the  Philippines  
Public  Hearing  Guidance  Note  
Center  for  Crisis,  Conflict,  and  Humanitarian  Protection  
Commission  on  Human  Rights  of  the  Philippines  
 1. Obtain   reliable   and   validated   data     to   come   up   with   thorough   and  
evidence-­‐based  assessment  of  the  current  structures  in  place  as  regards  
humanitarian  assistance  for  IDPs;  
2. Identify  the  gaps  in  humanitarian  response  in  the  Philippines  
3. Ensure  accountability  from  the  government  
4. Elevate   the   concerns   of   the   IDPs,   especially   those   experiencing  
prolonged  displacement,  at  the  national  level.  
5. Advocate  for  the  passage  of  an  IDP  Law.  
   
 
II.             Conduct  of  the  Public  Hearing  
   
1) The  Public  Hearings  are  proposed  to  be  headed  by  the  Focal  Commissioner  
on  Internally  Displaced  Persons,  Commissioner  Leah  C  Tanodra-­‐Armamento,  
assisted   by   the   HRCMO,   the   CCCHP,   corresponding   IDP   Monitors,   and   the  
Regional  Directors  and  Officers  concerned;  
 
2) Invitations   will   be   sent   out   to   IDP   rights   advocates,   communities,   and  
government   officials.   Speakers   from   the   IDP   communities,   as   well   as   from  
CSOs  and  government  agencies  will  be  identified;  and  
 
3) Testimonies  and  statements  made  will  be  under  oath.  Participants  from  the  
audience   who   are   willing   and   ready   to   provide   testimonies   and   statements  
in  public  and  under  oath  will  also  be  welcomed.  
 
 
III.             Consolidation  of  Public  Hearing  Outputs  and  Outcomes  
   
The   outputs   and   outcomes   from   the   Public   Hearings   will   be   added   to   the   currently   available  
data   and   information   from   consultations,   discussions,   and   submissions   of   national   agencies   and  
CSOs   in   finalizing   the   National   Inquiry   report.   The   report   shall   be   shared   with   stakeholders,  
particularly  the  Philippine  Government,  in  view  of  improving  law  and  policy  measures  as  well  
as  the  conduct  of  humanitarian  response  for  both  government  and  non-­‐government  institutions.  
 

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National  Inquiry  on  the  Human  Rights  Situation  of  Internally  Displaced  Persons  (IDPs)  in  the  Philippines  
Public  Hearing  Guidance  Note  
Center  for  Crisis,  Conflict,  and  Humanitarian  Protection  
Commission  on  Human  Rights  of  the  Philippines