By Minerva Newman
TAGBILARAN CITY — The provincial government of Bohol, through Governor Arthur Yap, has signed the deed of donation for a lot n Barangay Bool for the construction of a new Hall of Justice at a cost of P240 million to house all the eight city-based Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) including the Family Court and its component Office of the Court Social Welfare.
Bohol first district Rep. Edgar Chatto, RTC Executive Judge Leo Moises Lison and Supreme Court judicial infrastructure team leader Allister Joseph Alberastine inspected the site, Thursday, for the new Hall of Justice which will be located atop Mount Banat-i, which is this city’s highest point.
Chatto said the team will submit to the High Tribunal the deed of donation for the half-hectare lot owned by the province where the judicial center will soon rise.
Alberastine said the bidding for the consultancy on the design and detailed engineering will soon proceed for the construction of the justice hall this year or early 2021. His team was sent here by the SC Office for Justice Halls which is under the high court administrator, Alberastine said.
According to Chatto, he had lobbied for the project when he was Bohol governor with then Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin.
Chatto bared that now that he was back as a congressman, the project fund was secured in the SC lump sum allocation for the new justice halls in select areas of the country. Bersamin committed to allocate for Bohol in his time but the project was overtaken by his retirement and appointment of now Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta.
Chatto said he followed through with the project and secured a sustained commitment from Peralta during the congressional hearing of the SC budget for 2020.
“It is practical, strategic and convenient to also build a justice hall in Talibon, northwest of Bohol which, according to the SC team is in the procurement process/phase, Chatto added.
There are also RTCs based in Talibon, Carmen and Loay and another new Family Court in Ubay.
The congressman said he will find funds for the improvement of the existing road to the area to open for more developments in the future, he said that the proposed Bohol cultural and arts hub is eyed in a nearby area and the city plans to open roads access leading to Banat-i Hill.