Chief Justice Corona lauds Lapu-Lapu City

CEBU, Philippines -  Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday lauded the administration of Mayor Paz Radaza for continuing its support to the judiciary.

Corona issued the statement after the city donated a 2,000-square meter lot which is adjacent to the Hall of Justice. An Archives building will also be put up in the area.

Corona said that the lot, measuring 2,800 square meters, now occupied by the Hall of Justice in the city was donated during the administration of former mayor and now Lone District of Lapu-Lapu Rep. Arturo O. Radaza.

It was started during the time of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and completed during the administration of former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno.

The construction of P100-million Hall of Justice in Lapu-Lapu City and the P25-million building in Talisay City five years ago were supported by the Judicial Reform Project of the Supreme Court.

The other model halls will be put up in Angeles City for Luzon, and in Cagayan de Oro City for Mindanao, the construction of which have been funded through a soft loan from World Bank.

The Lapu-Lapu City Hall of Justice is the first pilot model court to be fully constructed under the World Bank-supported Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP).

It features modern facilities and information technology equipment to serve as the foundation for judicial reform program in the Visayas region.

The Asian Development Bank-assisted Regional Court Administration Office (RCAO) Pilot Project aims to decentralize the functions of the Office of the Court Administrator to facilitate judicial operations in major regions of the country.

Rep. Radaza said the city government during his administration donated lots because he believed that there is a need for the city to share and address the problem of the judiciary.

Radaza said the city government fully supported the needs of all national government offices especially the judiciary.

On the other hand, a bill establishing 14 additional branches of the Regional Trial Court and two additional branches of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Lapu-Lapu City has been filed.

Radaza made the announcement in yesterday's signing of the lot donation by the city government to the Judiciary.

According to Rep. Radaza, when he was mayor in Lapu-Lapu City he was aware of the lack of RTCs and MTCCs based on the needs of the increasing population of Lapu-Lapu.

The lack of RTCs and MTCCs was also the main reason for the number of cases now pending in the different courts.

He said his bill is now pending at the House Committee on Justice.

For her part, Mayor Paz Radaza said the judiciary has done its part and she recognizes their initiative in the expansion of their services in the city.

She said it is time the city did its share.

"I firmly believe that the judiciary, headed by Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, has been doing an exemplary work in the delivery of justice. The Judiciary has never gone tired instituting reforms and launching programs to deliver swift, fair and impartial justice to those who seek it," Mayor Radaza said.

"This lot donation is our contribution to a more equitable justice system," she said.