Senator Win Gatchalian encouraged the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to tap into the social services funds of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to sustain the financial assistance it provides to human rights victims.

“I encourage you to tap into the funds of the DSWD. Their social services program is quite flexible. I suggest that you coordinate with them,” Gatchalian told CHR officials during the agency’s 2026 budget hearing. The CHR was allocated ₱16 million in the national expenditure program for its financial assistance, compared to its requested budget ₱51 million for the program.

According to the CHR, the request for financial assistance lodged with the agency has been on the rise following the human rights body’s engagement with the labor department and the justice department’s board of claims to facilitate assistance to victims of human rights abuses.

Based on recent budget hearings, the grant of financial assistance is being centralized under the DSWD for better monitoring and efficiency purposes. “I agree with this move because it’s hard to monitor, one beneficiary might just go to several agencies,” he added.