Local officials have expressed optimism that the proposed "Katarungan Center" in Laguna province will help reduce the pressing problem of case backload.
Recently, the DOJ entered into a usufruct agreement with the provincial government of Laguna for the construction of the proposed center, to be located at the provincial capital in Santa Cruz.
The agreement will enable the DOJ to develop a 1,200-square-meter parcel of land that will be used for the construction of the new Katarungan Center.
The Katarungan Center will serve as a central hub for legal services and court proceedings. It will house a branch of the Regional Trial Court, along with an office for the National Prosecution Service (NPS), Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Laguna, and other justice-related and law enforcement offices.
The facility aims to provide residents of Santa Cruz and neighboring towns with faster and more accessible access to the rule of law and DOJ services.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida expressed his gratitude to the Laguna provincial government and said the agreement gives him hope that the DOJ can extend more of its services to the province.
“Itong binigay sa atin ng lalawigan ng Laguna ay samantalahin natin. Magtulung-tulong tayo kung paano natin maisasakatuparan ang pangarap na magkaroon ng maayos na opisina na gaganap sa mandato ng katarungan,” Vida said during the signing ceremony.
He also challenged DOJ personnel and members of the Judiciary to continually strive to meet the public’s expectations that justice can be compassionate and humanized while remaining fair, impartial, and grounded in the law.
“Ito ang hamon sa ating lahat na matimbang natin lagi na merong naghahanap ng katarungan. May tao tayong tinutulungan. Ito ang hamon ng compassionate justice. Ito ang hamon when we humanize our service. Sa pagganap natin, iisa ang hamon, laging for the glory of God, love of country, for the pride of our families,” he added.For her part, Governor Sol Aragones then reaffirmed her full support for the Justice Department and its goal of speeding up the resolution of pending cases through the establishment of the new facility.
“Iisa ang gusto natin: mapabilis ang kaso, magkaroon ng katarungan, ibigay ang hustisya sa mga nangangailangan nito, katuwang ang LGU at ang probinsya ng Laguna. Kaya’t minadali namin ito, at ngayon ay hindi lamang ito abot-kamay, hawak-kamay na po ito, sa inyo na ito ngayon. Ang probinsya ng Laguna ay laging nakasuporta sa inyo,” the governor added.
According to Secretary Vida, Region IV-A CALABARZON has five provincial prosecutors and 22 city prosecutors, which collectively handle the largest case load in the country—exceeding even that of the National Capital Region.
(With report from the Philippine Information Agency)
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