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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SC starts drive to institutionalize nationwide legal aid program for marginalized, underprivileged sectors

SC starts drive to institutionalize nationwide legal aid program for marginalized, underprivileged sectors

Published Apr 15, 2024 06:28 am

The Supreme Court (SC) has started its drive to institutionalize a nationwide legal aid program to improve access to justice of the marginalized and the underprivileged.

The first leg of the regional information drive for the Unified Legal Aide Service (ULAS) was launched last April 12 at the Saint Louis University in Baguio City.

The three other legs of the drive will be held on April 18 in Cagayan de Oro City for Mindanao; in Makati City on May 17 for the National Capital Region and nearby provinces, and in Iloilo City (the date has to be finalized yet) for the Visayas.

Input and suggestions gathered during the ULAS regional consultations will be compiled and submitted to the ULAS technical working group (TWG) for consolidation and drafting of the final rules, which, in turn, will be submitted to the SC as a full court for consideration.

The SC’s Public Information Office (PIO) said the four-leg ULAS regional consultations “serve as an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the proposed Rules, deliberate on its salient provisions, and provide feedback and insights that will be taken into consideration in drafting the final Rules.”

The TWG mandated to draft the ULAS rules is headed by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa.

Under the constitutional guarantee of adequate legal assistance to Filipinos, the PIO said the proposed Rules will require covered lawyers to render at least 60 hours of pro bono (free of charge) legal aid services every compliance period of three years in favor of indigent Filipinos and those belonging to the marginalized sectors.

The PIO said that since the information drive is consultative in nature, the highlight of each leg of the ULAS regional consultants “is the breakout session where participants are given the opportunity to discuss the proposed Rules, review its provisions, and voice out their suggestions.”

“Each breakout session is one hour and forty-five minutes long, with the participants divided into breakout rooms with corresponding facilitators,” it said.

The participants in the consultations are lawyers from small-sized firms, lawyers from medium/large-sized firms, solo practitioners, in-house counsels, lawyers employed by NGOs/NPOs (non-government organizations/non-profit organizations), and members of the academe, it also said.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo was keynote speaker at the Baguio City leg of the consultation drive. Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen gave an inspirational message while Justice Caguioa presented an overview of the SC’s legal aid initiatives and the need for, and reasons behind, the drafting of the ULAS Rules.

Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, vice-chairperson of the TWG to draft the ULAS Rules, delivered the closing remarks.

The PIO said the other speakers during the program were Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, president of SLU; Dr. Moya Collett, acting ambassador of the Australian Embassy to the Philippines; Atty. Tranquil S. Salvador III of Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De los Angeles and Atty. Ian Daniel B. Galang of Villanueva Gabionza & Dy.  Both law firms are of the TWG.

 

 

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