Amidst efforts to administer the rule of law with utmost regard for humanity and compassion, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) enter into an understanding for the benefit of clients in need of legal aid, who are also considered as “individuals in crisis situations”.
Through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today, both agencies committed to establish a “Client Referral and Psychosocial Intervention Program” to provide legal assistance through the DOJ and welfare and psychosocial support from the DSWD. The program aims to capacitate indigent complainants, litigants, victims of crime, to file or pursue their case. This shall entail provision of financial assistance, and other forms of assistance such as medical, psychological. transportation, funeral, and others as may be assessed by DSWD social workers.
Spearheaded by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla, through the DOJ Action Center (DOJAC), the MOU layouts a referral framework between the DOJ and DSWD to provide clients deemed as “individuals in crisis situations”, the necessary support aside from their legal needs. Upon interview and referral by DOJAC, DSWD shall tag these clients under a “priority program”, subject to the proper evaluation and assessment of a qualified social worker on the qualifications of these clients for assistance.
Secretary Remulla led the signing for the DOJ while Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Rex Gatchalian for the DSWD’s part.
Justice Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez and DSWD Undersecretary Josefina H. Romualdez became witnesses of the landmark initiative.
“The client referral and psychosocial intervention program is a manifestation and a testament of the whole-of-government approach which ensures that our less privileged people will have more in law when they have less in life,” Usec. Vasquez said.
“Justice does not end in the courtroom but continues in the lives of the people we continue to uplift and the dignity we restore,” Secretary Remulla stressed.
