Seminars, training held in hotels due to limited office space - CHR

MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights said it has limited office space and had to spend P5.4 million to hold seminars and training in various hotels last year, an expenditure that has been flagged by state auditors.

The Commission on Audit, in a 2017 report released this week, said the CHR "could have minimized the incurrence of substantial amount of training expenses totalling P5,404,543.80" if if it held the activities within office premises or in other government facilities.

The COA report said the CHR could also have saved on the 20 seminars and workshops it held if it decided to conducted them in a live-out basis instead of booking participants in hotels.

In a statement, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline De Guia stressed that the limitations in office space made holding activities within its "old, condemned building" a "challenge."

De Guia noted that the agency's multi-purpose hall was used by the Human Rights Victims' Claim Board for a time.

CHR also used government facilities such as the UP Hotel and the Development Academy of the Philippines, she added.

"The P5 million budget in question were spread out over 20 trainings for 2017, which were all nationwide in score. The lowest budget for one of the trainings accounted by the report amounts to P87,000," De Guia said.

The CHR spokesperson stressed that the expenses went through the regular procurement rules and procedures of the government and that the trainings were kept to its basic minimum expense.

"Being one of the least funded government bodies, we assure the public that we value every peso entrusted to us, especially at a time when the promotion and protection of human rights in the country continues to be a challenge," De Guia said.