JSCC Launches Dagupan City as 13th Justice Zone
March 27, 2024
Executive Judge Mervin. Jovito S. Samadan, DILG Undersecretary Lord A. Villanueva, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, DoJ Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez, Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, and Governance in Justice II (GOJUST II, Senior Advisor for Access to Justice Hector D. Soliman cut the ceremonial ribbon to formally launch the Dagupan City Justice Zone. (Photo Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), composed of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), today officially launched the Dagupan City as the site of its 13th Justice Zone. It is also the first Justice Zone in the Ilocos Region.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo underscored the significance of the Justice Zone initiative, highlighting its role in revolutionizing the delivery of justice services across the nation.
“The launch of the Dagupan City Justice Zone marks a pivotal moment in our pursuit of real-time justice delivery,” said Chief Justice Gesmundo. “This initiative exemplifies our collective dedication to ensuring that justice is not only swift but also accessible to all citizens.”
The Chief Justice reassured everyone that the JSCC will “keep exploring ways” to make the Justice Zones “even more responsive to the needs and challenges faced by the communities they serve, keeping in mind that projects and interventions also need to be aligned with higher-level plans and complement other initiatives in order to be effective.”
He concluded with optimism, expressing confidence in the transformative impact of the Justice Zone on the lives of the people of Dagupan and beyond. He urged all stakeholders to embrace the spirit of collaboration and unity in advancing the cause of justice for all.
Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Chairperson of the JSCC Technical Working Group (TWG) on Processes and Capacity Building, shared that the JSCC was formed in 2010 with the goal of delivering more cohesive, more comprehensive solutions to justice sector issues. Justice Singh said that being a Justice Zone is “a distinction to be likened to a gold standard in excellence in governance, but this time applied to the delivery of services – responsive in real time, when the people need it, not when it is convenient for us to deliver it.”
Justice Singh also said that the establishment of Justice Zones is one of several programs embodied in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 (PDP) of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., specifically under Chapter 13 on Ensuring Peace and Security and Enhancing the Administration of Justice, which she actively participated in drafting. “The PDP is the economic blueprint of the country, and the inclusion of the JSCC and the Justice Zones in the PDP goes a long way towards their institutionalization and integration in the mainstream of government and the Filipino way of life.”
The DOJ was represented by Justice Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez and the DILG by Interior Undersecretary Lord A. Villanueva.
Justice Undersecretary Vasquez gave an update of the reform initiatives which reaffirm the Department of Justice’s “commitment and duty to perform [our] role as the government’s leader in law enforcement under the prism of human rights”. He cited the success of the JSCC’s Jail Decongestion Summit in December 2023 which, in line with the DOJ’s twin efforts involving “input reduction” and “output increase,” they have released a total of Eleven Thousand Three Hundred and Twelve (11,312) PDLs.
Undersecretary Vasquez added that the DOJ has established the Human Rights Office (HRO) and the Gender and Development Special Protection Unit (GSPU) to ensure that their efforts remain ingrained in their institution.
For his part, Interior Undersecretary Villanueva pointed out that equitable access to justice is a critical component in ensuring that human rights are “protected and preserved within a robust and well-performing society” and that the JSCC’s vision of making justice accessible to Filipinos resonates with its principals.
Undersecretary Villanueva noted that the local government unit of Dagupan City had met “the rigorous criteria, covering the entire lifetime of a criminal case, to be designated as a Justice Zone” and announced that the city received a score of 52 out of 98 justice zone components, well above the passing threshold of 40.”
City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, in her welcome remarks, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to host the Justice Zone, underscoring the city’s commitment to enhancing access to justice for its residents. She highlighted the importance of local government engagement in ensuring the success of the initiative and pledged full support for its endeavors.
The Justice Zone concept, pioneered by the JSCC, aims to streamline coordination among various agencies involved in the justice system, thereby addressing issues of delay and accountability effectively. Through this coordinated approach, the Justice Zone endeavors to set a gold standard in justice delivery, characterized by efficiency and responsiveness.
Supported by development partners such as the European Union Justice Sector Reform Program: Governance in Justice II (GOJUST II) represented by Senior Advisor for Access to Justice Hector D. Soliman, the Dagupan City Justice Zone aims to empower local communities and strengthen institutional capacities to dispense justice effectively. The initiative aligns with national development goals outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and complements the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027.
The Chief Justice and Justice Singh were joined by Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda and Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez. Also present were Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva and other Court officials.
The 12 other Justice Zones are in Quezon City, Cebu City, Davao City, Angeles City, Bacolod City, Naga City, Calamba City, Balanga City, and Baguio City. The three specialty zone areas in Zamboanga City (Trafficking-Free Justice Zone), Tagaytay City (Economic Tourism Justice Zone), and Puerto Princesa City (Green Justice Zone).
The Dagupan City Justice Zone is also the sixth to be launched during the term of Chief Justice Gesmundo—Balanga City, Baguio City, Zamboanga City, Tagaytay City, and Puerto Princesa City. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo led the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) principals to officially launch Dagupan City as the site of its 13th Justice Zone. (Photo Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo signs the JSCC Wall of Commitment – a declaration by the partners in the Justice Sector Coordinating Council, and the people of Dagupan City, committing to support the Dagupan City Justice Zone and its efforts to improve communication, cooperation and coordination among local justice sector stakeholders. (Photo Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Chairperson of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) Technical Working Group (TWG) on Processes and Capacity Building. (Photo Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Associate Justices Maria Filomena D. Singh and Rodil V. Zalameda, Department of Justice Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Lord A. Villanueva, Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Mayor Belen T. Fernandez pose for posterity at the launch of the Dagupan City Justice Zone. (Photo Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo addresses the stakeholders and attendees of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council’s launch of the Dagupan City Justice Zone. (Photo Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Undersecretary of the Department of Justice, Hon. Raul T. Vasquez recognizes the JSCC stakeholders’ hard work as a “testament to our dedication and commitment to the furtherance of our common goals and dream of a more expeditious, effective, and less expensive administration of justice under the Rule of Law” at the launch of the Dagupan City Justice Zone. (Photo Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Lord A. Villanueva looks forward to more collaborative initiatives in the name of justice. (Photo Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Dagupan City Mayor, Hon. Belen T. Fernandez says that they are honored and humbled by the presence of the JSCC principals and many important guests, noting that historically, “our place have been referred to as ‘Nandaragupan’ and, with the passing of time, has been shortened to ‘Dagupan’”. (Photo Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)