USAID-ABA ROLI Pays Courtesy Call on Chief Justice Gesmundo
April 07, 2022
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and the other Members of the Supreme Court formally accept the video conferencing equipment donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) for selected Halls of Justice in the National Capital Judicial Region during the courtesy visit of the USAID-ABA ROLI on April 7, 2022 at the Supreme Court Session Hall.
During the visit, ABA ROLI Country Director Mr. Peter Mackenzie gave updates on the Access to Justice and Support for the Rule of Law in the Philippines (ACCESS) . ACCESS, a USAID-funded program since 2018, aims to bolster rule of law and enhance access to justice for the most vulnerable communities, whose rights are least protected.
The meeting ended with a video presentation showing the turnover and installation of videoconferencing equipment to the following trial courts: Regional Trial Courts Branch 116 Pasay City, Branch 79 Quezon City, Branch 13 Manila, Branch 23 Manila, Branch 35 Manila, Branch 48 Manila, Branch 70 Taguig City, and Metropolitan Trial Courts Branch 107 Valenzuela City, Branch 52 Caloocan City and Branch 122 Las Pinas City.
Joining the Chief Justice were Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr.
Also in attendance were Philippine Judicial Academy Chancellor Rosmari D. Carandang; Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva; Assistant Court Administrator and Chief of Public Information Office Brian Keith F. Hosaka; Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Laura C.H. Del Rosario; and Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Technology Officer Jed Sherwin G. Uy.
Joining them from USAID were Mr. Ryan Washburn, Mission Director Philippines/Pacific Islands and Mongolia; Mr. Jeff Goebel, Acting Deputy Mission Director; and Mr. Gerardo Porta, Senior Democracy, Rights and Governance Specialist; Mr. Peter Mackenzie, Country Director. From ABA ROLI: Atty. Liezl Parajas, Senior Program Manager; Mr. Ravy Uong, Senior Program Officer; Atty. Jadelee Marquez, Senior Program Officer, ABA ROLI; Ms. Elyse Wanzernreid, Program Associate; and Mr. Kenneth Gutlay, Communications Specialist, ABA ROLI. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office