DOJ NEEDS MORE HALLS OF JUSTICE
25 October 2007
Acting Justice Secretary Agnes VST Devanadera announced today the construction of new halls of justice for the use of judges, prosecutors and other government personnel responsible in the discharge of criminal justice system throughout the country.
In an inventory report submitted by Usec Fidel J. Exconde, assigned in the implementation of the Justice System Infrastructure Program(JUSIP) , as of August 2007, the program was able to build a total of 272 new buildings, repaired and renovated 27 , and improved and developed 40 of them. The statistics obtained from the Supreme Court showed that there are still over 200 cities and municipalities needing JUSIP projects.
As this developed, the acting secretary asked members of the Lower House to approve immediately the Php 200 million allocated by the DBM , to whom the Department of Justice earlier submitted a Php 491 million proposal for the construction of 47 JUSIP projects for 2008. She said as soon as Congress approves it she is set to appropriate the Php 200 million, noting the inconvenient working conditions of some court judges and personnel in shabby and neglected salas/rooms coupled with overused and almost unworkable office equipment and facilities.
“It’s sad to note that despite of new technology, you can still find government workers using cranky typewriters, with correcting fluids to edit paper works, and in cramped structures ” she told DOJ officials and employees after a flag raising-ceremony following her visit of a government office in Ormoc City in Region 8.
Devanadera, currently OSG Solicitor , said that priority of construction will be according to actual conditions and severity of need by regional and municipal trial courts
The JUSIP started in 1988 with Php 380 million grant from the President's funds. From 1989, the budget for the program was incorporated to the DOJ regular budget. To date, Php 2.44 billion has been spent for the purpose of housing, in just one building, court judges, prosecutors, probation, PAO lawyers, and register of deeds personnel and other government office workers. By virtue of a MOA between the DOJ and the DPWH, the latter was tasked in the planning, design and technical requirements of the projects. A separate agreement was signed also by the DOJ and the SC, assigning maintenance and ownership to the latter of the buildings completed, while the DILG served the duty to locate and donated lots or lands for the JUSIP.
Secretary Devanadera said “the pace of development should be accelerated to address the need for convenience, space, and efficiency for the justice system to benefit not only the members of the judiciary and other government personnel but also the general public as well” she added.
At present , distribution of JUSIP projects show that 186 are located in Luzon, Visayas with 81, and 82 in Mindanao. No funds were appropriated for JUSIP projects from 2004 to 2006. The first Hall of Justice is currently erected in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, built in October 1989. The biggest is the Quezon City Hall of Justice, funded with Php 132 million and completed in September 1992. To date, as costs of construction materials and labor continue to shoot up, a one-storey building for a single sala costs up to Php 2,500,000,oo including furniture, air-conditioner, water & electrical connections and other fees.
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