🤝 HTC Establishes Human Rights Education Center Through CHR Partnership

A milestone in human rights education was marked on March 2, 2026, as Commission on Human Rights Region XII and Holy Trinity College of General Santos City formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing a Center for Human Rights Education (CHRE) at the HTC Accreditation Room.

The partnership makes HTC the first educational institution in General Santos City and the Province of Sarangani to establish a CHRE, reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence and social responsibility.

The agreement aims to strengthen human rights awareness and integrate human rights education within the academic community through instruction, research, and extension programs. CHREs are Higher Education Institution-based centers that promote human rights education initiatives, including curriculum development, faculty training, research undertakings, and community engagement activities.

Leading the signing ceremony were Hon. Beda A. Epres, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, and Atty. Keysie M. Gomez, Regional Director of CHR-XII. They were joined by HTC officials headed by School President Dr. Rey T. Albano; Provost and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Atty. Josemar T. Albano; Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Marilou E. Albano; Vice President for Administration Dr. Ruby L. Tamayo; along with college deans and student leaders.

During the program, messages of commitment and acceptance emphasized the importance of institutionalizing human rights education to cultivate awareness, accountability, and active citizenship among students, faculty, and the broader academic community.

Through the partnership, CHR Region XII and HTC committed to implementing collaborative programs, training sessions, and capacity-building activities designed to advance human rights education in the region and foster a culture rooted in dignity, justice, and respect.

The establishment of the CHRE signals a strengthened collaboration between the academic sector and the national human rights body, reinforcing collective efforts to promote and protect human rights across Region XII.

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