TACLOBAN CITY – Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda of Borongan City met with barangay officials last week for them to establish a human rights action center in their respective barangays.
The meeting with the barangay officials is a run-up to their meeting with the executives of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) slated on September 4.
“We have much to learn about the functions of the Commission on Human Rights. Gaining knowledge from them will make our work easier, as they can assist us in addressing issues within our barangays, especially in cases of abuses,” he said.
On August 6, officials from the CHR visited Mayor Agda in his office, where they discussed the establishment of a Human Rights Action Center (HRAC) in every province, city, and barangay.
The creation of city and barangay Human Rights Action Centers (BHRAC), supervised by a human rights action officer, was also discussed.
These officers will be responsible for receiving complaints of alleged human rights violations and referring them to the CHR regional office or sub-office for investigation.
This initiative is in line with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2014, issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the CHR, aiming to mainstream human rights through the rule of law.
“Don’t let violence or political conflict occur—it is our responsibility to prevent it. As public servants, it is our duty to adhere to and exhibit good behavior in political dealings,” Mayor Agda emphasized.
The city mayor also urged barangay officials to assist the city government in addressing the problem of malnutrition by monitoring the situation and condition of children in their respective barangays.
Additionally, Mayor Agda announced that former rebels from the city who surrendered to the 78th Infantry Battalion have been employed as “forest rangers” in Borongan City. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
