Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin on Wednesday graced the signing of the deed of donation between the Supreme Court and the Cebu City government over the 1.5-hectare South Road Properties in Cebu City envisioned to be the site of a Judiciary Complex.
Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez and Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña signed the deed of donation for the Supreme Court and the city government, respectively.
In the deed, the city government donated the property in exchange for the 7,123 square meter lot it earlier donated to the court, originally intended solely for the Court of Appeals Cebu City Station.
The Judiciary Complex will house the Court of Appeals Cebu City station as well as the Regional Trial Courts and the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities of Cebu City.
Also included in the Complex are the hearing rooms of the Sandiganbayan, a training center for judges and court personnel in the Visayas, and the Office of the Deputy Court Administrator for the Visayas.
In his speech, Chief Justice Bersamin expressed his gratitude to the Cebu City Government, saying the offer is advantageous to the Court since the CA and all the city trial courts will have more working space, as well as “permanent and continuous enjoyment thereof.”
The chief magistrate said the court litigants also stand to benefit, as they will not have to travel to different locations if they have official business in both the CA and the Cebu City trial courts.
“I consider myself the lucky man who gets to announce this acceptance of donation and to witness the actual signing of the Deed of Donation. I know many Chief Justices before me have worked with the Court Administrator and the Cebu City local government unit regarding the site of the judicial complex, but the fulfilment of all their hard work has thankfully landed on me,” said Bersamin.
He said the construction of the Cebu City Hall of Justice will commence soon, as assured by the Court Administrator.