Experts of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Welcome the Philippines’ Human Rights Commitments , Ask about Attacks on Human Rights Defenders, Indigenous Land Rights and Drug Use Policies
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the seventh periodic report of the Philippines, with Committee Experts welcoming the State’s human rights plans and commitments, and asking about attacks on human rights defenders, indigenous land rights and drug use policies.
Asraf Ally Caunhye, Committee Expert and Leader of the Taskforce for the Philippines, in opening remarks, welcomed the State party’s human rights plans and commitments.
Hesaid, however, that there had been 305 killings of human rights defenders in the Philippines since the last review. The Philippines ranked third globally for killings of human rights defenders. What measures were in place to ensure that those responsible for these crimes were prosecuted and sanctioned?
Mr. Caunhye said indigenous peoples continued to face violations of their economic, social and cultural rights through the destruction of ancestral lands by extractive industries approved by the State. How would the State party protect the rights of indigenous peoples?
Ludovic Hennebel, Committee Vice-Chair and Member of the Taskforce for the Philippines, asked about plans to decriminalise drugs for personal use and implement alternatives to imprisonment for drug users. What measures were in place to put an end to the “war on drugs” and to provide reparations to victims?
Rosemarie G. Edillon, Undersecretary, Policy and Planning Group, National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines and head of the delegation, introducing the report, said economic development, resilience building, and poverty reduction were central to the Government’s human rights agenda. From 2015 to 2023, the poverty rate dropped from 23.5 to 15.5 per cent of the population. The State was providing social protection to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
There was no State policy to attack human rights defenders, the delegation said. There were remedies to address violations of the right to life, and freedom of association and assembly.
On indigenous land rights, the delegation said the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act protected designated ancestral grounds and cultural heritage as “no-go zones” for development projects and emphasised free, prior and informed consent for all such projects. The Government was mapping and registering indigenous cultural assets to protect them.
Regarding drug policies, the delegation said the Government was adopting a humanitarian approach to drug use and rehabilitation. Many drug users were treated in communities rather than in rehabilitation centres. Persons who participated in rehabilitation programmes were removed from criminal offender lists.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Caunhye said discussions had brought to light issues that needed to be addressed to strengthen the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in the Philippines. This information would inform the Committee’s concluding observations.
Ms. Edillon, in her concluding remarks, said the State party was united in its goal of advancing economic, social and cultural rights. It would continue with actions that would create change and realise the economic, social and cultural rights of all citizens.
In her concluding remarks, Laura-Maria Craciunean-Tatu, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for participating in the dialogue and for providing comprehensive answers.
The delegation of the Philippines was comprised of representatives from the National Security Council; the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos; the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; the National Council on Disability Affairs; the Philippine National Police; the Department of Health; the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat; the Dangerous Drugs Board; the Department of Justice; the Department of Health; the National Economic and Development Authority; the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Department of Education; the Department of Labour and Employment; the Department of Social Welfare and Development; the Department of Foreign Affairs; and the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee’s seventy-seventh session is being held until 28 February 2025. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage . Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here , and meetings summaries can be found here .
The Committee will next meet in public at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, 28 February, to close its seventy-seventh session.
Report.
The Committee has before it the seventh periodic report of the Philippines (E/C.12/PHL/7).
Presentation of Report
ROSEMARIE G. EDILLON, Undersecretary, Policy and Planning Group, National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines and head of the delegation, said that through the Philippine Development Plan, which she led, the Government aimed to enable and empower every Philippine citizen to achieve a comfortable lifestyle and a secure future. The 1987 Constitution served as a firm foundation for the protection and promotion of economic, social and cultural rights. This foundation was reinforced by laws, policies and programmes that supported workers, promoted equitable economic participation, and provided social protection.
The Government had put in place a plan for economic and social transformation that accelerated economic and social recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic toward a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Economic development, resilience building, and poverty reduction were central to the Government’s human rights agenda. From 2015 to 2023, the poverty rate dropped from 23.5 per cent to 15.5 per cent of the population. The State had been employing a multi-dimensional strategy to reduce poverty, expanding the economic pie, facilitating access by the poor to the drivers of economic growth, and providing social protection to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. It had broad-based programmes like the conditional cash transfer programme, which benefitted over 4.4 million households. Beneficiaries were also covered by other social development programmes.
The labour market had made a strong recovery after the pandemic. Employment figures were favourable, but there was much volatility and uncertainty in domestic and external fronts. For this reason, Congress had passed legislation that mandated a 10-year labour market development plan, which promoted a dynamic, efficient and inclusive labour market environment.
Legislative measures had been enacted to institutionalise and expand social protection. In healthcare, the universal health care law ensured automatic PhilHealth coverage for all citizens. Family planning initiatives had prevented an estimated 774,000 unsafe abortions and 1,400 maternal deaths annually. The Mental Health Act expanded services to ensure informed consent in treatment, prohibit shackling, and provide culturally sensitive care. Ongoing efforts focused on breaking barriers such as attitudinal biases, inadequate modifications in public spaces, and employment challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
Following disruptions caused by the pandemic, the Department of Education launched the basic education development plan 2030 and the learning recovery continuity plan to reverse learning loss. Enrolment had rebounded to 28.5 million learners in the 2022–2023 school year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The Government was also strengthening access to special education through policies like Department of Education order no. 44, which provided clear guidance for implementing programmes tailored for learners with disabilities.
Free, prior and informed consent was a cornerstone of the State’s indigenous peoples’ rights. Although challenges persisted in its effective enforcement, the Philippines continued to collaborate with key stakeholders and communities to ensure that indigenous rights and sustainable development initiatives were effectively upheld. It continued to promote and safeguard the cultural integrity of indigenous peoples by conducting initiatives that highlighted traditional knowledge, practices and crafts.
Building on these initiatives, the Government, in collaboration with civil society, had launched the fourth Philippine human rights plan, a comprehensive roadmap for protecting and promoting human rights. Its second thematic chapter focused on the country’s commitment to the Covenant, integrating human rights into national development efforts and prioritising marginalised communities. The plan was aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Philippines reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the Covenant and its principles. The dialogue with the Committee was an opportunity for introspection and growth. The Committee’s feedback and recommendations would serve as a valuable guide as the State strived to build a society where every citizen could progressively realise their economic, social and cultural rights; and no one was left behind.
Questions by Committee Experts
ASRAF ALLY CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked about measures taken to incorporate the Covenant into the domestic legal system and to ensure the primacy of Covenant rights. In which court cases had Covenant rights been invoked? The Committee welcomed the State party’s human rights plans and commitments. What steps had been taken to ratify the Optional Protocol?
What system was in place to ensure that the judiciary was free from political influence? There had been 305 killings of human rights defenders since the last review. The Philippines ranked third globally for killings of human rights defenders. The existing legal institution was reportedly unable to prevent the red-tagging and killing of human rights defenders, including persons from indigenous communities and minority groups. What measures were in place to ensure that those responsible for these crimes were prosecuted and sanctioned?
How did the Government prevent the abusive use of the Anti-Terrorism Act to restrict the activities of human rights defenders? What had barred the enactment of the bills on human rights defenders and the Human Rights Charter? How would the national human rights institution be enabled to function independently in accordance with the Paris Principles?
Indigenous peoples continued to face violations of their economic, social and cultural rights through the destruction of ancestral lands. They were being deprived of their land management and food systems by extractive industries approved by the State. How would the State party protect the rights of indigenous peoples? What measures were in place to ensure that the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples expedited the issuance of land titles?
What steps had been taken to ensure that free, prior and informed consent was obtained for extractive projects? What progress had been made in developing a national action plan on business and human rights? How did the State ensure that enterprises exercised due diligence when carrying out extractive activities and provided reparations for indigenous peoples affected by such activities?
What measures were in place to implement the State’s commitments under the Paris Agreement? What resources had been allocated to addressing climate change? How was the State party addressing environmental pollution caused by extractive and logging activities?
Despite a decline in poverty levels, 18 per cent of the population lived below the poverty line. Prevailing inequality in wealth remained high. The top 10 per cent of the population earned 45 per cent of gross national income, while the bottom 50 per cent earned only around four per cent. What measures would the State party take to eradicate poverty and support households living in poverty, rationalise fiscal policy, and introduce a progressive tax base that increased taxes for the wealthiest?
Corruption was reportedly rampant in the police, the judiciary and other State institutions. What measures were in place to combat corruption? Were there cases in which politicians had been sentenced for corruption offences? Were there measures to allow citizens to access information held by Government bodies? Would the State party set up an anti-corruption commission or court?
There was no anti-discrimination law in the Philippines. What steps had been taken to adopt an anti-discrimination bill? How would the State party protect vulnerable persons from discrimination? What measures had the State party taken to increase the representation of women in politics and decision-making positions, and in high income sectors of the economy? How was the State party providing childcare services to empower women to take part in the workforce?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the judiciary was independent and the Judicial Bar Council nominated judges independently. Justice programmes had been included in Government fiscal programmes to ensure that they were appropriately funded.
The conditional cash transfer programme benefitted the poorest households with family members who were still in school. The poverty rate was at 15.5 per cent as of 2023. This rate had decreased thanks to State support programmes. The State party was investing in physical and digital connectivity for island provinces, which facilitated poor households’ access to growth centres.
The Philippines was vulnerable to natural disasters. The Government was investing in disaster risk reduction and mitigation. Concerning the Paris Agreement, the State’s goals were to reduce emissions by 75 per cent, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and increase the use of renewable energy. The Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act reduced tariffs on electric vehicles to encourage their import and use.
The State party had specific laws on anti-discrimination in different fields. It did not have a bill on sexual orientation and gender identity, but had issued an executive order that concerned discrimination on the basis of gender preferences.
The State party’s justice system, including the Supreme Court, and its national human rights institution, the Commission on Human Rights, effectively addressed complaints of human rights violations. There was thus no need to ratify the Optional Protocol.
There were many non-governmental organizations in the Philippines that had expressed opposition to the current bill on human rights defenders. The State party had engaged with civil society organizations on the revision of the bill. The bill called for human rights defenders to not advocate for the violent overthrow of the Government.
The State party was supporting the participation of women in the labour force. It had advocated for policies and legislation that allowed for nighttime work for women, safe spaces in workplaces, lengthened maternity and paternity leave and telework, and was conducting studies on inclusive work arrangements for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
The Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Act supported the country’s response to terrorism and safeguarded the rights of those accused of the crime. The State had issued guidelines on detentions and surveillance that ensured that persons’ rights were not violated. The Philippines’ rank in the Global Terrorism Indexhad fallen thanks to implementation of the Act. Investigations had been launched into all claims of misuse, and arrest warrants had been issued for officers who had misused the law. Enforcement of the Act was carried out with the highest level of responsibility. The State party ensured that its actions adhered to due process and the rule of law.
The Philippines was a State party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and had implement a national corruption prevention programme. Recently, it had hosted a regional conference on open governance and enacted a revision to the Government Procurement Act, which closed loopholes. An electronic procurement service had been launched to increase transparency. Many Government processes had been digitised, lessening opportunities for corruption.
The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act protected designated ancestral grounds and cultural heritage as “no-go zones” for development projects and emphasised free, prior and informed consent for all such projects. The Government was mapping and registering indigenous cultural assets to protect them.
The State had an indirect taxation system, as many families relied on overseas remittances for their income, which were not being taxed. The tax system punished undesirable behaviours such as the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes. Revenues from these taxes were being allocated to the health sector.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on measures to ensure that internally displaced persons had access to adequate food, basic housing, healthcare, education and social protection services; the status of the bill on the protection of internally displaced persons; measures other than the tax system to reduce disparities in wealth and income; steps to ensure gender parity in Government bodies; whether the State party had an implementation mechanism for recommendations issued to it by international bodies; how the State party linked climate adaptation policies with the land registration system to compensate people affected by natural disasters; how the State party could receive income from major emitters to fund climate adaptation plans; the ramifications of tax policies on economic, social and cultural rights; projects to strengthen anti-corruption bodies; and whether the State party trained judges and prosecutors on the Covenant.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples was revising guidelines on the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act. The Commission had issued 272 approved ancestral domain titles to indigenous peoples.
The national disaster risk reduction management framework addressed preparedness, rescue, response, recovery and rehabilitation. The State party conducted post-disaster needs assessments and tried to compensate for economic loss. A “digital locker” was being developed to allow citizens to store land titles, which would support reparation claims in cases of disasters.
Discussions on the national action plan on business and human rights were in advanced stages. The State party sought to develop business and human rights policies that addressed specific issues related to children, indigenous peoples and environmental protection.
The Government was interested in generating revenues from major emitters. It had developed a law that allocated resources to measuring loss and damage from climate change, which would help in this regard. The State party hosted the Loss and Damage Fund, and there were many international investments in environmental, social and governance projects in the Philippines.
The Philippines had been recognised by the United Nations for its national recommendations tracking database. Judges were provided with training on the Covenant.
Women parliamentary members had pushed for policies promoting women’s rights and inclusive governance. Community consultations and education programmes were in place to promote women’s participation in politics.
The State party had proposed bills to amend taxes on passive income. It provided tax incentives to businesses that chose to operate outside of Manila.
Questions by a Committee Expert
SEREE NONTHASOOT, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the Philippines , expressed concerns about high levels of unemployment and informal employment in the Philippines. The informal sector provided livelihoods for about 60 per cent of the population, the majority of whom were female. What measures were in place to regularise the informal sector? The Committee was concerned about the quality of employment provided to persons with disabilities.
What measures were in place to inspect sweatshops and to issue sanctions to employers who violated workers’ rights? What measures were in place to address workplace harassment and gender-based violence. Who was excluded from the social security system? It reportedly did not cover persons in street situations.
There was significant variation between minimum wages in the capital and other regions. How did the State party support adequate living and working standards outside the capital? Did workers who were not paid minimum wages have access to a complaints mechanism? There had been a significant increase in child labour in the State party. How was this being addressed?
The Committee was concerned by reports of red-tagging and killing of trade union workers. How was the Government promoting freedom of association? What was the role of relevant agencies in protecting trade union rights and the right to strike?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the unemployment rate for 2023-2024 was 4.3 per cent. The rate quickly recovered after the pandemic. The State party had determined that less than 40 per cent of workers were in the informal sector. It was developing policy recommendations related to protecting the rights of informal sector workers and revising occupational safety and health standards to protect against accidents. The State was expanding opportunities for skills training and upskilling to help citizens increase their employability. There was a policy and regulatory framework in place to protect the rights of workers in the “gig economy”.
The Government was encouraging investment outside of the capital. It conducted consultations and examined trends in real wages before setting regional minimum wages. Setting a standard minimum wage for the entire State would discourage businesses from investing in remote provinces.
There was no State policy to attack human rights defenders. There were remedies to address violations of the right to life, and freedom of association and assembly. The Government rejected the word red-tagging due to the absence of such a policy.
The “Reach Out” programme aimed to reach out to families in street situations, welcoming them in temporary shelters. Abandoned children were placed in foster families. Over 2,000 individuals had benefitted from the programme in 2023.
The National Commission against Child Labour had inspected over 10,000 establishments in 2020, identifying violations of child labour laws. Many children identified as labourers were provided with educational materials and support. Family cash transfer programmes included seminars for parents which discouraged child labour. Parents who engaged their children in child labour could be taken off the programme.
The Government was providing training for persons with disabilities to help them pass eligibility requirements for public sector jobs. It also conducted skills matching to help persons with disabilities access work in the private sector.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on whether regional minimum wages were indexed and reviewed regularly; the role of the Government in protecting Filipino national migrant workers overseas; the number of labour inspections conducted annually; whether the Commission on Human Rights received complaints from workers; whether the State party would adopt policies mandating businesses to adopt diversity and inclusion regulations; plans to revise the Labour Code to remove barriers to forming and joining trade unions; and disaggregated data collected on persons not in employment, education or training.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Government considered regional poverty lines when setting provincial minimum wages. This was a starting wage, and the Government was supporting workers to receive higher wages.
The State party had created a Department of Migrant Workers, which protected the rights of national migrant workers overseas. The Department was forming bilateral agreements with other countries to protect migrant workers from abuse. Several thousands of workers had been repatriated during the pandemic, many of whom had received assistance. Their children were provided with scholarships.
Collecting data on persons not in employment, education or training was a goal of the Philippine Development Plan. There were special employment programmes for students and alternative learning systems in place to reduce the number of such persons.
The State party had intensified efforts to identify and prevent child labour. More than 50,000 child labourers had been provided with necessary services and more than 30,000 child labourers had been removed from labour.
The Philippines had several thousands of trade unions and workers’ associations with over four million members in total. The State engaged in dialogue with the International Labour Organization regarding incidents in which workers were killed or disappeared, and had adopted measures to prevent such incidents in the future. A committee had been formed to investigate these cases, and investigations into several cases had been concluded.
In 2023, the State party had inspected more than 400,000 establishments to ensure they complied with health and safety standards.
Questions by a Committee Expert
LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Vice-Chair and Member of the Taskforce for the Philippines , asked about progress made in implementing recommendations from other treaty bodies on polygamy. What measures were in place to reform divorce procedures?
Had the State party received complaints regarding the violation of children’s rights during conflict or on the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict? What sanctions were imposed for persons who forced children to work? How was the State party preventing sexual and online exploitation of children, and supporting birth registration for children from indigenous and Muslim communities? What measures were in place to protect victims of rape and to repeal laws allowing perpetrators to avoid punishment by marrying victims?
How did the State party promote equal access to civil unions for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community and protect the bodily integrity of intersex persons?
How were people in the informal sector supported to access housing? What measures were in place to prevent evictions? How did the State party promote access to health for vulnerable groups, to mental health care in rural areas, and to emergency contraception and post-abortion care? How did it promote education on sexual and reproductive health for rural and young people?
Was the State party planning to decriminalise drugs for personal use and implement alternatives to imprisonment for drug users? What protection was in place to prevent stigmatisation and criminalisation of persons receiving treatment for drug addiction? What measures were in place to put an end to the “war on drugs” and to provide reparations to victims of the war?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Philippines recognised several types of contractual employment, including for work performed outside the employer’s facilities and independent contractors. These workers were able to file complaints with the Government in cases of violations of labour rights.
A law on agrarian emancipation had freed 6,000 farmers from debt. The State was also implementing agricultural support programmes. The area under the Verde Island Passage would be declared as a protected area, and the State would allocate resources to protecting the area. The State’s Blue Economy Bill would mandate policies for managing marine and coastal resources. The State party had also enacted a law on seafarers’ rights.
The natural disaster risk reduction and management act regulated support for persons displaced by natural disasters. Such persons could access State-funded shelters. The Government continued to provide support to persons displaced by the 2017 Marawi siege. The Marawi Compensation Board ensured tax-free compensation for housing and property lost during the siege. The State also provided livelihoods, healthcare and educational support for victims.
The Executive Branch had been advocating for a law on freedom of information, which would be passed soon. A freedom of information programme had been established to grant public access to official, non-confidential documents of public concern. A witness protection programme was also in place. The Anti-Red Tape Authority promoted transparency in Government operations, while the Ombudsman acted on confidential complaints of corruption. Punitive actions for corruption offences were severe.
In State law, polygamy was illegal, and bigamy was a criminal offence. However, Muslim men with financial ability and their wives’ permission could marry multiple wives under traditional law, which also mandated divorces.
The Philippines advocated for the protection of children in armed conflict. It had ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. Members of the Armed Forces under the age of 18 did not take part in combat. When violations occurred, investigations were carried out. However, the New People’s Army continued to recruit children. There were over 500 documented cases of this terrorist group’s use of children. The Government continued to exert efforts to ensure that schools were not used to exploit children.
The State was strengthening efforts to address adolescent pregnancy through the implementation of comprehensive sexuality education and referral networks to reproductive health facilities. Over 100 schools were implementing the education programme, and over 1.1 million leaners had participated. Behavioural change materials had also been developed for schools and health facilities.
The Philippines remained a prime target for online sexual abuse of children. Legislation had been implemented in 2022 to penalise all forms of online abuse of children. State agencies were cooperating to identify perpetrators.
The Government was collecting data on malnutrition and stunting. Stunting in children under five had decreased from 33 per cent in 2018 to 23 per cent in 2024.
Housing had been declared as a national concern by the current Government. The national housing programme had provided an average of 35,000 social housing units per year in recent years. Around 75,000 housing units had been provided to persons living in areas vulnerable to natural disasters and to indigenous peoples.
The Government was adopting a humanitarian approach to drug use and rehabilitation. The drug clearing project sought to take away drugs from the people and discourage people from using drugs. Rehabilitation support was provided to drug users. Over 60 per cent of regions had been declared “drug cleared”, and over 40 per cent “drug-free”.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the passage of the extrajudicial killing bill and its relationship with the State drug policy; whether police were prohibited from reporting drug-related deaths to the media; whether detentions of drug users were voluntary; how the State supported people with drug-use records, who were criminalised, to access the work market; issues with the coverage of social security and nutrition programmes; measures to expedite agrarian reform to address high levels of poverty among farmers; measures to protect small-scale fishers from large-scale fishing businesses; indicators to assess multi-dimensional poverty and inform policies to tackle poverty; measures to support and protect the children of overseas workers from domestic abuse; how the energy market was regulated to make access to energy affordable; the impact of the prohibition of abortion on maternal mortality rates and measures implemented to respond to treaty bodies’ recommendations on increasing access to pre- and post-natal care services; and measures to legalise abortion in cases where there was risk to the health of the mother.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there were several programmes supporting children in their first 1,000 days of life, including conditional cash transfers. Health workers were provided with training on caring for newborns and there were pre- and post-natal care programmes in place.
The Philippines was an early adopter of a multidimensional poverty index, which helped to identify areas in which increased support was needed. A community-based monitoring system had been set up to collect data on multidimensional poverty.
The State party had observed that for families with mothers who migrated overseas, grandparents typically cared for children and family circles also provided support. The Government had instructed teachers on identifying evidence of domestic abuse. Migrant workers were required to develop financial plans before leaving the country. The reintegration programme was being strengthened to help returning migrant workers.
The State had reached 100 per cent electrification of rural regions, and was now working to address pockets of households that did not have electricity, supporting their access to renewable energy.
Maternal deaths had been steadily decreasing in recent years. The Government was continuing to strengthen maternal and newborn care programmes, including by upskilling birthing nurses and reducing unsafe abortions.
The State party prevented commercial fishers from fishing in waters reserved for municipal fishers and spawning grounds. The Clean and Healthy Oceans Programme aimed to reduce illegal and unregulated fishing by improving compliance with regulations. Programmes were in place to develop aquatic parks to support small-scale fishers, who could also access support for livelihoods and fishing tools.
Questions by a Committee Expert
LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN-TATU, Committee Chair and Member of the Taskforce for the Philippines , commended the State party on the constant increase in the budget allocated to education, which had reached 3.2 per cent of gross domestic product. However, this was well below the United Nations’ recommendation of at least four per cent of gross domestic product. Were there further plans to increase the education budget? The Philippines’ global ranking in terms of quality of education was in the bottom 25 of 172 nations, the lowest score in Asia. What measures were envisioned to increase access to quality education for all?
The State party had put in place a five-year development plan for children with disabilities, which ended in 2019. What results were achieved by the plan and what measures were in place to address limited access to education for children with disabilities and indigenous children? In one region, 56 per cent of children were not attending school. What measures were in place to address this issue? What measures were in place to address the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on access to education? How was the national policy framework on schools as zones for peace implemented? Legislation had been implemented that discontinued mother tongue education for minority groups. What was the rationale behind the adoption of this law?
There was increasing disparity in access to the internet across different regions. What measures were in place to improve access to the internet for poor households and regions?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that the Constitution mandated that education needed to be given priority in the budget. Overall spending on education amounted for around 5.5 per cent of gross domestic product. The State party had made kindergarten education compulsory and extended compulsory education by two years, and the curriculum had been revised recently to improve education quality. The Government was working to address the inadequate supply of textbooks and computers in schools through decentralisation. The Philippines had over 100 languages and it was difficult to develop learning materials in each of these languages. The State thus decided to discontinue mother tongue language instruction and standardise English as a medium of instruction from grade five.
The State party was also working to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning outcomes. Recently, legislation had been passed on remedial education. During the pandemic, the Government adopted learning continuity plans to support access to education through online and broadcast education.
The Government had implemented many measures to manage culturally sensitive education in Muslim and indigenous communities. Education on peace and conflict resolution was being promoted, and the State party was working to repair schools damaged by conflicts. The Government promoted the concept of schools as zones of peace in conflict-affected areas such as Mindanao. Local governments and security forces contributed to protecting schools in peace zones from being used in military activities through measures such as school escorts. The Government continued to provide psychosocial support for children affected by armed conflict.
The indigenous education programme promoted quality, culturally relevant education for indigenous peoples. It had been implemented in over 3,000 schools. Over 75 indigenous languages were used in instruction, and an additional 4,000 teachers, 95 per cent of whom were indigenous, had recently been hired to provide education to indigenous children.
The Government was working to improve access to education and healthcare for children with disabilities. Legislation mandating inclusive education for children with disabilities had been adopted and disability support officers had been established in educational institutions.
The State party had improved the policy and regulatory framework on internet access. The national fibre-optic cable network was being expanded to southern regions. The State party was collaborating with Starlink to allow southern provinces to access the internet via satellites. Telecommunications companies were provided with incentives to operate in the Philippines, and wi-fi access points were being set up in schools and public places.
The State’s campaign against illegal drugs was now geared towards rehabilitation and reintegration of drug users. The House of Representatives had investigated extrajudicial killings occurring in the context of the war on drugs and the Government had decided to amend the Penal Code to increase penalties for extrajudicial killings.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on how the State party promoted education in Spanish and Arabic; the results of the education programme on Islamic values; how the State party protected the expression of indigenous culture and indigenous cultural sites; whether indigenous leaders participated in creating policies impacting their communities; legal and administrative provisions to protect indigenous languages; the number of legal cases invoking economic, social and cultural rights in which reparations had been granted for violations; the role of the Commission of Human Rights in investigating complaints from workers and places of detention; how the State party would protect fishing zones for small-scale fishers; measures for reducing threats and attacks against human rights defenders; plans to decriminalise abortion; and measures to protect the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there were schools in Mindanao that provided Arabic and Islamic education. Education in Spanish and Arabic was an option in mainstream schools. Four-year courses on Arabic teaching were provided in local universities.
There was no legal framework on cultural misappropriation, but the Government was working to protect intellectual property rights by registering the cultural assets and expressions of indigenous peoples. Indigenous communities needed to be consulted regarding all projects and policies affecting them. Indigenous leaders were included in local development councils.
Courts had cited the Covenant in decisions upholding standards of living and access to economic, social and cultural rights, including in cases in which remedies were granted for environmental harm caused by mining operations. There needed to be a new Charter governing the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights, which had traditionally focused on civil and political rights but was recently working to promote economic, social and cultural rights.
Court cases were underway into violations of regulations on fishing zones by commercial fishers. The Government protected the rights of legitimate environmental defenders. Protection of the environment was included as a pillar of the national security policy.
The State party had pivoted to a community-based approach to illegal drugs. Many drug users were treated in communities rather than in rehabilitation centres. Persons who participated in rehabilitation programmes were removed from criminal offender lists, but not drug user lists.
The State party had not yet developed a comprehensive bill on the rights of internally displaced persons. Persons affected by the Marawi siege had been provided with access to water and electricity, and reconstruction efforts were ongoing in affected areas.
The State had created a committee on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex affairs, which was developing policies and programmes to promote equality and inclusion of the community. The Constitution and various State legislation prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The police had formulated a gender sensitivity programme to ensure protection of this community.
Pre-natal checkups were provided free of charge in primary health facilities, and mobile clinics provided maternal health services in isolated areas. The Government, while maintaining the prohibition of abortion, had taken measures to ensure quality post-abortion care was provided without stigmatisation.
Closing Remarks
ASRAF ALLY CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for the Philippines , said the dialogue had been fruitful and constructive, addressing a range of issues confronting the Philippines. Discussions had brought to light issues that needed to be addressed to strengthen the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights, and would inform the Committee’s concluding observations. Mr. Caunhye expressed thanks to all persons who had contributed to the dialogue.
ROSEMARIE G. EDILLON, Undersecretary, Policy and Planning Group, National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the dialogue. The State party was united in its goal of advancing economic, social and cultural rights. The President had a clear vision for national development that focused on improving access to all economic, social and cultural rights. The State party would continue with actions that would create change and realise the economic, social and cultural rights of all citizens.
LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN-TATU, Committee Chair , thanked the delegation for participating in the dialogue and for providing comprehensive answers. In some instances, additional data would have been appreciated. Human rights mechanisms were not mutually exclusive; they all served to enhance protections of rights holders. The Committee thanked civil society organizations for submitting information to the Committee and called for further cooperation between civil society and the Government.
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