Contact Details

Rm. N-411, House of Representatives, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
+63 2 931 5497, +63 2 931 5001 local 7370

The issues of population, poverty, reproductive health, and sustainable human development are so closely interconnected that none of them can be considered in isolation.

Almost 20 years ago in 2002, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in his message to the Fifth Asian and Pacific Population Conference in Bangkok maintained that “… the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, cannot be achieved if population and reproductive health issues are not addressed.  In order to address these issues, we must work to further promote women’s rights and invest in education and health, including reproductive health and family planning.”

Greetings of peace, justice, and solidarity to all on this most important day.

Today is not only the International Day of the Disappeared, but our National Heroes Day as well. It so happens that this year, the last Monday of August which is when the Philippines celebrates National Heroes Day every year, falls on August 30, which is when the world observes yearly the International Day of the Disappeared.

Video message delivered by Rep. Edcel C. Lagman during State Terror and the Protection of HRDs: An Online Forum on 31 August 2021.

Good afternoon to all human rights defenders (HRDs), their supporters and allies, and special thanks to the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) for spearheading this online forum on state terror and the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs).

(Delivered by Rep. Edcel C. Lagman on the blessing of the New Legislative Building, Tiwi, Albay on 31 August 2021)

Honorable Mayor Jaime C. Villanueva; Honorable Vice Mayor Jose Morel C. Climaco; Honorable Members of the Sangguinang Bayan of Tiwi, Albay; Reverend Father Jose Chavenia, Jr.; members of the family of the late Honorable Vice Mayor David C. Beato, other municipal officials and personnel, guests, ladies and gentlemen, Dios marhay na aga saindo gabos.