JSCC Declares Puerto Princesa as First Green Justice Zone
November 11, 2023
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo delivers the keynote address at the launch of the Puerto Princesa Justice Zone at the HUE Hotel and Resorts in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on November 10, 2023. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo delivered the keynote address at the launch of the Puerto Princesa City Justice Zone, declaring the same as the Justice Sector Coordinating Council’s (JSCC) First Green Justice Zone in the Philippines at the HUE Hotel and Resorts in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on November 10, 2023.
“We are fully aware of the existential threat of climate change and that the duty to ensure a sustainable ecology is fundamental to all of our reforms,” Chief Justice Gesmundo said, acknowledging that our survival as a species and of the succeeding generations are at stake.
The JSCC was formed in 2010 by the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The Chief Justice said that the JSCC institutions, like the Court, each have their own mandates, their own missions, and plans of action. But through the JSCC, the institutions come together as one sector to deliver more cohesive, more comprehensive solutions to justice sector issues.
“Today, we are joined by another executive department, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to address one of the most urgent problems, if not the most urgent that beset not just Puerto Princesa, not just Palawan, not just the Philippines, but the entire world. I speak of the problem of climate change brought about by environmental degradation,” Chief Justice Gesmundo said.
The Chief Justice cited the Supreme Court’s own Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovation 2022-2027 (SPJI), saying that the Committee on Environment and Sustainability chaired by Senior Associate Justice Mario Victor M. V. F. Leonen in moving ahead with its commitment to review the Rules of Procedure in Environment Cases, which include the Writ of Kalikasan and the Writ of Continuing Mandamus, to make them more responsive and effective.
The Justice Zone project was established to enhance coordination and communication among the principal agencies of the JSCC by serving as a venue and a mechanism for communication, principled cooperation, and studied coordination with great deference to institutional independence.
Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Chairperson of the JSCC Technical Working Group on Processes and Capacity Building highlighted the JSCC’s resolve to have a Justice Zone focused on environmental protection and sustainable development considering the Philippines’ unique characteristic of being an archipelagic country that is rich in natural resources. She pointed out that the Philippines enjoys the distinction of being one of the few countries that are considered mega diverse, or those which have high levels of biodiversity.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla added that the launch is expected to intensify the coordination among the five pillars of the criminal justice system in Puerto Princesa City, particularly the adjudication process for environment- related cases, and other environmental initiatives.
“The primary focus of the Green Justice Zone will be on environmental protection and the proper management of our natural resources,” DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, Jr. said, noting that the protection of our environment must be parallel with our efforts to enforce our already-instituted legal mechanisms.
As the first green justice zone, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, welcomed the invitation to participate as it would enhance capacity and coordination among justice sector actors to come up with solutions and strategies on how to best address concerns on the handling and adjudication of environmental cases, among others.
The JSCC principals were joined by Supreme Court Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda, Mario V. Lopez, Ricardo R. Rosario, Japar B. Dimaampao, Jose Midas P. Marquez, Antonio T. Kho, Jr., and Singh at the Puerto Princesa City Walk where they launched mud balls into the bay. Also with them were Australian Ambassador, H.E. HK Yu PSM, Governor Victorino Dennis M. Socrates, Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron, and Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, Mr. Christoph Wagner. The mud balls help reduce the coliform levels as they serve as natural filters, soak up excessive nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous (which promote coliform growth), and evolve into habitats for beneficial microorganisms.
The Chief Justice also held a dialogue with Puerto Princesa judges to discuss the various programs and projects operationalized within the framework of the SPJI. Moderated by Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, the discussion underscored the integral role of these judges in bringing to fruition the SPJI’s long-term goal of building a more efficient, innovative, and accessible Judiciary.
The Puerto Princesa City Justice Zone, the first Green Zone, is the 12th to be launched after the ones in Quezon City, Cebu City, Davao City, Angeles City, Bacolod City, Naga City, Calamba City, Balanga City, Baguio City, Zamboanga City, and Tagaytay City. The launch of Puerto Princesa as the First Green Justice Zone was supported by the European Union through its PhP1.1 billion GOJUST Programme. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)
Standing: Associate Justices Jose Midas P. Marquez, Mario V. Lopez, Ricardo R. Rosario, Japar B. Dimaampao, Rodil V. Zalameda, Antonio T. Kho, Jr., and Maria Filomena D. Singh. Seated: Governor Victorino Dennis M. Socrates, Mr. Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr., Australian Ambassador H.E. Hk Yu PSM, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin Remulla, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)
Governor Victorino Dennis M. Socrates, Mr. Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr., Australian Ambassador H.E. Hk Yu PSM , Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin Remulla, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron, and Judge Jocelyn Sundiang Dilig, Executive Judge and Convenor, Puerto Princesa City Justice Zone..(Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)
Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr., Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Justice Mario V. Lopez, Mr. Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, City Director Eufracio Forones, Jr., Australian Ambassador H.E. Hk Yu PSM, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, Justice Ricardo R. Rosario, Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron, Governor Victorino Dennis M. Socrates, OIC Regional Prosecutor Albert Joseph Cumilang prepare to launch coliform reducing mud balls into the bay. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)
Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva moderates as Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, together with Associate Justices Jose Midas P. Marquez, Ricardo R. Rosario, Rodil V. Zalameda, Mario V. Lopez, and Antonio T. Kho, Jr. have a dialogue with Puerto Princesa Judges. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo delivers the keynote address at the launch of the Puerto Princesa Justice Zone at the HUE Hotel and Resorts in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on November 10, 2023. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)
