Author

Kenth Mark A. Salcedo*
Filamer Christian University, Inc., Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines

Abstract

This mixed-methods sequential explanatory research study was conducted to determine the level of human rights awareness in relation to the level of access to information and socio-economic opportunities of marginalized people in the Province of Iloilo. The total participants of this study were 422 marginalized people wherein 222 from a total population of 500 LGBTQIA+ and 200 from a total population of 400 PWD’s in the province of Iloilo selected through multi-stage sampling using the raosoft formula. The two research instruments employed in this study were the survey questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Guide. The survey questionnaires were composed of: A 30-item researcher-made Human Rights Awareness Questionnaire; 15-item researcher-made Access to Information Questionnaire; and the 38-item Socio-economic Opportunities Questionnaire. Another instrument used in this study was the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Guide. The independent variables in this study were Human Rights Awareness while the dependent variables were the Access to Information and Socio-economic Opportunities. The statistical tools used in the analysis of data were the frequency count, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Analysis of Variance and Pearson r. The inferential statistics was set at 5% alpha level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that on its entirety, the level of human rights awareness as responded by 422 marginalized people was “very high”. In general, the level of access to information of marginalized people was “high”. As a whole, the mean level of the socio-economic opportunities as responded by 422 respondents was “high”. There was “no significant difference” in the socio-economic opportunities among the levels of human rights awareness. There was a “significant difference” in the socio-economic opportunities among the levels of access to information. There was “no significant relationship” between human rights awareness and access to information. There was “a significant relationship” between human rights awareness and socio-economic opportunities. There was “a significant relationship” between access to information and socio-economic opportunities.

Keywords: Student Engagement, Academic Achievement, ALIVE Program.

*Corresponding author / Email: salcedokenthmark1998@gmail.com
DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS05021142

Recommended citation:
Salcedo, K. M. A. (2026). Human rights awareness, access to information, and socio-economic opportunities of marginalized people in the Province of Iloilo. Pantao (International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 5 (2), 4073-4093. http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS05021142

Read the full text

References

Alcantara, D., & Bacani, M. (2020). Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program: A critical analysis of how the program has been effective in reducing poverty in Iloilo. Philippine Social Development.

Alexiadou, E. A. (2023). Locating a human rights solution to the health vulnerabilities and inequalities of the Roma in Europe: Concept to action. Human Rights Review, 24(3), 413-431. https://link.springer.com/articles/10.1007/s12142-023-00684-6

Chapman, A. R., & Carbonetti, B. (2011). Protection of human rights of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups: The role of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Human Rights Quarterly, 33(3), 682-732. https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/446976/summary

Castillo, F., Manlapig, C., & Sy, L. (2020). Digital divide and rural access to information in the Philippines: The case of the Iloilo Province. Journal of the Rural Development, 44(2), 88-101.

Clausen, A. (2006). Inequality of poverty and wealth in Philippines: Policy effectiveness [Doctoral dissertation, Universitat zu Koln].

Corpuz, J. A. G. (2026). Exploring tertiary student awareness of basic human rights. In Community-based language learning and cultural competence (pp. 183-214). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.

Delgado, J. (2019). Philippine human rights education: A local government proposal. The Journal of the Human Rights Education, 12(1), 45-59.

Ekeh, C. M., & Adetayo, V. U. I. A. J. (2024). Who speaks for the poor? Human rights, poverty, and social justice, and access to media in Nigeria. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adebowale-Adetayo/publication/3803483111

Ghimire, S. (2025, April 1). Good practices in human rights: Effective strategies of defending marginalized groups. Frost and Sullivan Institute. https://frostandsullivaninstitute.org/best-practices-in-human-rights-effective-methodologies-to-safeguard-marginalized-communities/

Hernando, C. M. D., & Belanio, J. L. R. (2016). Grassroot development of communities and social mobilization of NGO-assisted businesses in the Province of Iloilo and Guimaras. University of the Philippines Visayas Philippine Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 21, 100-116.

Hesselman, M., De Wolf, A. H., & Toebes, B. C. (Eds.). (2016). Human right on socio-economic sphere in the provision of important services. Routledge.

Humane and Equality Center. (2025, February 9). Success story and lessons supporting marginalized sectors. https://centerforhumanequality.org/blog/supporting-marginalized-groups–success-stories-and-lessons-learned

Kempin Reuter, T. (2019). Human rights and the city: The inclusion of the marginalized in the city and smart cities. Journal of Human Rights, 18(4), 382-402.

Khanif, A., & Hooi, K. Y. (Eds.). (2022). The marginalisation and human rights in Southeast Asia. Taylor & Francis.

Koch, I. (2009). The indivisible rights of human rights: Social-economic demands protection in the European Convention on Human Rights (Vol. 101). Brill. https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=rfJ5DwAAQBAJ

Liebenberg, S. (2005). Human dignity as a value in understanding socio-economic rights. South African Journal on Human Rights, 21(1), 1-31.

Magbitang-Chauhan, A., Dalangin, M., Santos, L., & Reyes, L. (2000). Philippines: Human rights education in Nueva Ecija. Human Rights Education in Asian Schools, 47.

Manalastas, E. J. D., & Torre, B. A. (2013). Social psychological aspects of advocating LGBT human rights in the Philippines. Gender and Justice Action Research Program, Institute of Human Rights, University of the Philippines Law Center.

Manriquez, I. M., Linggo, M. N., & Sueno, K. R. C. (2019). Rights-based approach to marginalized families: Social workers in focus [Doctoral dissertation, College of Arts and Sciences Education].

Miller, B. J. (2006). Living outside the law: How the informal economy undermines the enforcement of human rights regime on billions of the most marginalized citizens in the world. Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights, 5, 127-157. https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC53175

Nava, L. H., Mancao, M. C. T., Hermosisima, M. V. C., & Yeban, F. I. (2005). Human rights awareness of secondary school students in the Philippines: A sample survey. Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Centre.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights. (2022, September 14). Philippines: 2020-2022 human rights situation report. United Nations. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/countries/ph/2022-09-14/Philippines-Human-Rights-2020-2022.pdf

Pandey, M. M. (n.d.). A research on human rights and development: Socio-economic approach. https://wisdompress.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Principles-and-Theories-of-Human-Rights.pdf

Saha, J., & Chowdhury, K. P. (n.d.). Globalization and the socio-economic rights: A detailed study of the economic, social, and cultural factors in the modern world. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jhilike-Saha/publication/386735091

Sepulveda Carmona, M., & Donald, K. (2015). The legal empowerment beyond: Enhancing access to justice in the human rights angle. International Journal of Human Rights, 19(3), 242-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2015.1029340

Sinosa, J. P. (2015). The level of awareness about human rights among college of law students in a selected school in Iloilo City [Doctoral dissertation].

Songcayawon, J. R. (2017). Level of human rights awareness and experiences among Southeast Asian students in the Philippines: Basis for a proposed human rights empowerment program for international students. Proceedings Journal of Education, Psychology and Social Science Research, 4(1).

Tanada, M. (2021). Rural-based digital literacy initiatives: A critical assessment of Iloilo government initiatives. Journal of Information and Communication Technology, 18(2), 102-119.

Ty, R. (2011). Social injustice, human rights-based education and citizens’ direct action to promote social transformation in the Philippines. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, 6(3), 205-221.

United Nations. (n.d.). The universal declaration of the human rights. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

Villar, M. (2021). The rural Iloilo barrier to socio-economic mobility: An educational and employment study. Journal of Philippine Socio-Economic Studies, 24(1), 38-51.

World Bank. (2024, May 27). Access to education and health services, economic opportunities important in enhancing the well-being of the Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/05/27/access-to-education-health-services-economic-opportunities-key-to-improving-welfare-of-indigenous-peoples-in-the-philippines

Published in

Discover more from Pantao (The International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences)

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading