The Supreme Court (SC) and various government agencies launched the country’s first “Green Justice Zone” in Palawan.
In a statement, the SC stressed that the Puerto Princesa City Justice Zone is envisioned to be “the premiere showcase of national-local government collaboration for efficient and effective delivery of justice in environmental protection and natural resource management.”
The Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) joined the SC in the said launch.
A justice zone is where judges, prosecutors, law enforcers, and representatives of local government units (LGUs) meet on common interests, coordination, and information sharing.
It is a venue “where key programs relating to the delivery of justice are in place to maximize coordination among the different agency actors to address the perennial issue of delay and the greater problem of accountability,” Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo had earlier said.
The SC, DOJ, and DILG are the prime movers of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) which sets up Justice Zones. The JSCC was created in 2010.
With the Puerto Princesa Justice Zone, there will now be 12 Justice Zones in the country. Earlier set up by the JSCC were those in Tagaytay City, Quezon City, Cebu City, Davao City, Angeles City, Bacolod City, Naga City, Calamba City, Balanga City, Baguio City, and Zamboanga City.
The Tagaytay City Justice Zone was designed to be a “specialty Justice Zone” that focuses on economic development and tourism, while that in Zamboanga City was envisioned to be the first ever “Trafficking-Free Justice Zone.”
Expected to attend the launching starting at 9 a.m. at the Hue Hotels and Resorts in Puerto Princesa City are Chief Justice Gesmundo, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, DILG Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. and DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga.
Also expected to attend are officials of Palawan and Puerto Princesa City, other local government officials in the province, and officials and personnel of the judiciary.
Earlier, representatives of the JSCC had met with officials of Puerto Princesa City and Palawan in the setting up of the Justice Zone.
SC Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh led JSCC officials in setting up the ground work.
The SC said that Justice Singh, head of the JSCC Technical Working Group on Processes and Capacity Building, had fruitful dialogues with Palawan Governor and Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Chair Victorino Dennis M. Socrates and Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron in the launch of the Justice Zone. Rey E. Requejo