A/HRC/21/12 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its thirteenth session from 21 May to 4 June 2012. The review of the Philippines was held at the 11th meeting on 29 May 2012. The delegation of the Philippines was headed by Leila M. De Lima, Secretary (Minister), Department of Justice. At its 17th meeting held on 1 June 2012, the Working Group adopted the report on the Philippines. 2. On 3 May 2012, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Philippines: Hungary, Qatar and Uganda. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to resolution 16/21 of 25 March 2011, the following documents were issued for the review of the Philippines: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/13/PHL/1); (b) A compilation prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/13/PHL/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/13/PHL/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to the Philippines through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of delegation stated that the Philippine Government welcomed this UPR as an opportunity to engage in open and constructive dialogue with the members, observers and stakeholders of the United Nations Human Rights Council and the international community, and to share the actions taken to implement the recommendations it had accepted during the 2008 UPR, as well as advancements in the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights. 6. It stated that President Aquino’s Social Contract with the Filipino People, a 16-point agenda, was built on a strong foundation of respect for human rights. The key results areas of the Social Contract are anti-corruption and good governance; poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor; achieving inclusive economic growth; building just and lasting peace and promoting the rule of law; and protecting the environment, with gender equality as a cross-cutting concern. 7. Under its progressive development orientation, the Philippines maintains that all growth must be inclusive, and that the benefits of a growing economy must be felt by each and every citizen. The Philippines quadrupled the budget for its Pantawid Pamilya programme, a conditional cash-transfer programme which is an investment in human capital provided to poor households to keep their children in school and to keep them healthy, and for mothers to receive pre- and post-natal health care. From the initial 232 3