CHR launches new access-to-justice measures and torture prevention initiatives for PDL

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through its Prevention Office, convened government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners on 5 December 2025 for the “Advancing PDL Rights 2026: Program Presentation and Partnership Ceremony.” The event, held as part of the week-long National Human Rights Consciousness Week (NHRCW) 2025 celebration, highlighted the CHR’s continuing efforts to strengthen the rights and promote the welfare of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL).

The program showcased CHR’s key accomplishments in advancing PDL rights in 2025 and formally introduced major initiatives for 2026, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to humane treatment, anti-torture safeguards, and justice reform.

In her welcoming message, Commissioner Faydah Maniri Dumarpa emphasized the CHR’s commitment to strengthening PDL protections. “Ang ating pagtitipon na ito ay alay para sa mga Persons Deprived of Liberty… All persons deprived of their liberty must be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the person. As we commence today’s program, may we continue to champion meaningful reforms — so that every facility, every cell, every process, and every policy speaks of justice with humanity.”

During the ceremony, the CHR presented four major initiatives that will guide its PDL rights work in 2026. Project Puting Papel, in partnership with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), introduces a prison-based access-to-justice mechanism through secure drop boxes placed in prisons, enabling PDL to directly reach the CHR for complaints, assistance, or access to information. The Bantay Bilangguan advocacy campaign seeks to build national support for the establishment of a National PreventiveMechanism in line with the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture. In addition, the National CAT Consultation will convene key stakeholders to strengthen the country’s implementation of the Convention Against Torture and support its reporting obligations.

Laya Calculator: A digital breakthrough for timely and transparent release processes

The Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Calculator[1], dubbed the “Laya Calculator” stands as a key innovation developed with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This digital tool directly addresses longstanding challenges in computing GCTA and other time allowances, such as the Time Allowance for Study, Teaching, and Mentoring (TASTM). For years, these computations have been opaque, inconsistently applied, and difficult for PDL and their families to understand. By standardizing and simplifying release-date computation, the Laya Calculator enhances transparency and helps prevent overstaying—a persistent concern in the Philippine correctional system, where congested facilities and the absence of audit mechanisms frequently contribute to delayed release

UNODC National Programme Officer Dr. Ian Niccolo Tobia underscored how crucial timely and transparent computations are for PDL. “Everywhere we go, PDLs want to know their GCTA computation but records are not always available, and the process is difficult. When a 40-year sentence can become just 17 years and 13 days with complete GCTA and the TASTM, we see how life-changing accurate computation can be. The Laya Calculator helps ensure no one stays a day longer than the law requires.”

Beyond its technical function, the Laya Calculator operationalizes international human rights standards, particularly the Nelson Mandela Rules, which require that the date and time of release be clearly recorded and regularly updated. The tool levels information asymmetry by enabling justice actors—including jail officers, public attorneys, human rights workers, and PDL themselves—to verify eligibility for release, track dynamic release dates, and ensure accountability for timely release. As presented by UNODC, the calculator is envisioned to contribute to decongestion, promote lawful and humane detention, and empower PDL by giving them ownership and clarity over their path to liberty.

Strengthening partnerships toward humane and accountable justice Representatives from various government agencies, including the BuCor, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, joined the event. Civil society organizations and international partners, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNODC, were also in attendance. A symbolic Partnership Ceremony reaffirmed cross-sector cooperation in advancing rights-based penal management.

The program concluded with a message from CHR Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc, underscoring the importance of unified action in ensuring dignity and justice for all PDL. “Ngayong umaga, binalikan natin ang mga tagumpay nitong 2025 sa pagsusulong ng karapatang-pantao ng mga PDL. Para sa 2026, malinaw ang ating layunin: gawing mas makatao, mas mabisa, at mas makatarungan ang sistemang panghustisya sa Pilipinas. Lagi nating tandaan na ang hustisya ay hindi dapat nakasalalay sa suwerte, koneksyon, o pagkakataon.”

As the CHR moves toward 2026, the Commission reaffirms its commitment to uphold the dignity of PDL and advance systems that prevent torture, improve detention conditions, and support fair and humane justice processes. ###

[1] GCTA Calculator: https://chr.gov.ph/gcta-calculator/