The European Union Provides Equipment to the Philippine Courts in aid of COVID-19 response
The European Union Provides Equipment to the Philippine Courts in aid of COVID-19 response
PRESS RELEASE/ 24 July 2020
The European Union, through the GOJUST Programme, turned over 70 laptops worth Php 3M to the Supreme Court in support of efforts to conduct videoconferencing hearings amidst this COVID-19 pandemic.
To ensure that the judiciary continues to perform their functions despite COVID-19, the Supreme Court recently required the conduct of videoconferencing hearings for criminal cases with Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) pursuant to Section 6 of Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 41 – 2020.
In addition to the laptops provided to the Supreme Court, GOJUST has also provided 120 multi-media tablets and different kinds of personal protective equipment to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to facilitate the safe participation of the PDLs in the videoconferencing hearings. A total of PHP 10 million has been mobilized to date through the GOJUST Programme to support justice sector agencies in their response to COVID19.
As early as August 2019, GOJUST has supported the Supreme Court in the initiation of the videoconferencing hearings in the Davao City justice zone. The lessons from the successful pilot in Davao allowed the Supreme Court to respond quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Turnover to the Supreme Court
During the virtual turn over, Mr. Thomas Wiersing, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, said that “the provision of the laptops aims at helping the court system to deliver justice and reduce the backlogs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope that the videoconferencing for court proceedings could continue beyond the crisis to contribute to a more effective justice system.”
“With these new laptops and the 120 multi-media tablets that GOJUST has also provided to the BJMP, we expect more videoconferencing hearings to be conducted, especially in areas that need it most,” said Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta. “Indeed, it is in challenging times, such as these, that we are given the opportunity to rise to the occasion and work together to find new and different ways to improve our operations and strengthen our institution.”
In the same event, the Manual on Caseflow Management for New Trial Court Judges was also presented virtually.
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The Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme is funded by the European Union (EU) with a value of over PHP900M.
GOJUST works primarily with the key justice sector institutions (Supreme Court, Department of Justice and Department of the Interior and Local Government) to 1) strengthen sector coordination and policy making, 2) creating space for reform implementation through decongestion and automation, and 3) generating resources for reform implementation through the improvement of administrative and financial management. The Programme runs from 2016 to September 2020.
The European Union provides support to the penitentiary system to face COVID-19
The European Union provides support to the penitentiary system to face COVID-19
PRESS RELEASE/ 16 July 2020
In its commitment to support justice sector reform in the Philippines, the European Union (EU) through the Governance in Justice (GoJust) Programme is providing a PhP 5.6 M worth bus unit to the Quezon City Jail. The bus will be used to transport Persons Deprived of Liberty positive for COVID-19 to designated quarantine facilities to contain the spread of the virus in jails.
The EU also distributed (almost PhP 400,000 worth of) supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Philippine National Police and the justice sector media organizations in the DOJ, such as the Justice and Court Reporters’ Association (JUCRA) and the Justice Reporters’ Association (JUROR), as well as the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), Philippine Center for Photojournalism (PCP). PPEs to be distributed include face masks and face shields that will help policemen and journalists, considered as frontliners, to pursue their duties to deliver essential and credible information to the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The assistance package reaffirms the European Union’s commitment to enable the justice sector to address the needs of the court and penitentiary systems, especially during this pandemic,” according to Counsellor Enrico Strampelli, Head of Cooperation of the European Delegation to the Philippines, as he led the turnover.
“The BJMP thanks the European Union for its committed support to our country’s justice reform initiatives, through the GoJust cooperation. The new bus the EU donated for Quezon City Jail will augment our lift capability,” said Jail Director Allan S. Iral, Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
It also complements other assistance provided by the EU such as PHP 50 million in relief distribution to vulnerable communities, a top up of PHP 17 million for the EU funded program on Enhanced Biosecurity in South East Asia in order to better address pandemics, and the PHP 1.1 billion provided to strengthen the WHO’s COVID-19 response in 8 ASEAN countries.
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The Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme is funded by the European Union
(EU) with a value of over PHP900M.
GOJUST works primarily with the key justice sector institutions (Supreme Court, Department of Justice and Department of the Interior and Local Government) to 1) strengthen sector coordination and policy making, 2) creating space for reform implementation through decongestion and automation, and 3) generating resources for reform implementation through the improvement of administrative and financial management. The Programme runs from 2016 to September 2020.
Criselle Capistrano, GOJUST Communications Officer
M| 0917 855 6302
09178556302; info@gojust.org
EU allocates almost PHP 10 Million from the GOJUST Programme to support justice sector agencies in their response to COVID19
Press Release/ 9 June 2020
The European Union through the Governance in Justice Programme has allocated Php 10 million to support justice sector agencies in their response to COVID19.
Mr. Thomas Wiersing, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, said that part of this package is the Php 3 million worth of 120 multi-media tablets and different kinds of personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies which are being turned over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
These gadgets and equipment are provided by the GOJUST Programme in support of BJMP’s efforts to address the COVID-19 situation in detention facilities.
It also complements other assistance provided by the EU such as PHP 50 million in relief distributions to vulnerable communities, a top up of PHP 17 million for the EU funded program on Enhanced Biosecurity in South East Asia in order to better address pandemics, or the PHP 1.1 billion provided to strengthen the WHO’s COVID-19 response in 8 ASEAN countries.
Turnover to BJMP
During the turnover ceremony at the BJMP, Mr. Wiersing said that “the provision of tablets and personal protective equipment reaffirms the European Union’s commitment to enable the justice sector to address the needs of the court and penitentiary systems during this pandemic”.
The PPEs and disinfectants intended to protect persons deprived of liberty (PDL) and jail personnel from COVID-19 exposure shall be distributed to various detention centers identified as having a high population and congestion rate.
The justice zone areas – Quezon City, Davao City, Cebu City, Angeles City, Bacolod City and Naga City – are among those recognized to have the highest numbers.
Furthermore, all outsiders are currently prohibited from entering detention facilities in efforts to address the pandemic. In response to this, the BJMP rolled out the e-Dalaw program to enable PDL to communicate with their families and lawyers through online video calls amid quarantine measures in the country. GOJUST is providing 120 multimedia tablets to support e-Dalaw and to pilot- test the hearing of criminal cases involving PDL through video conferencing in selected areas.
“The success of our efforts to contain and eradicate COVID-19 in compromised facilities and to prevent it from getting into other jail units depend on the support of partners like the European Union. For this, the BJMP is most thankful,” expressed Jail Director Allan S Iral, the Chief, BJMP.
“Our men and women in jails will continue working round the clock, strictly implementing health protocols and guidelines to make sure that our personnel and PDL remain protected and safe from the virus,” Iral added.
The BJMP reports 716 COVID-19 cases among persons deprived of liberty in five regions with 167 recoveries.
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The Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme is funded by the European
Union (EU) with a value of over PHP900M.
GOJUST works primarily with the key justice sector institutions (Supreme Court, Department of Justice and Department of the Interior and Local Government) to 1) strengthen sector coordination and policy making, 2) creating space for reform implementation through decongestion and automation, and 3) generating resources for reform implementation through the improvement of administrative and financial management. The Programme runs from 2016 to September 2020.
Criselle Capistrano, GOJUST Communications Officer
EU Responds to challenges in Ph Jail due to COVID-19 Pandemic
EU responds to challenges in Philippine jails due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Due to the heightened concern on the plight of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Union’s GOJUST Programme in consultation with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), will provide detention facilities with multimedia tablets for the eDalaw system; as well as[1] test kits, disinfecting agents and personal protective equipment (PPEs) for inmates and jail personnel.
This initiative further builds on the support being provided by the Programme to establish and expand eDalaw in justice zone areas – Quezon City, Davao City, Cebu City, Angeles City, Bacolod City and Naga City and the rollout of videoconferencing between courts and jails.
“We are pleased to provide assistance to the criminal justice system as they address new challenges resulting from COVID-19, “ said Mr. Thomas Wiersing, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to the Philippines.
Support to GOJUST is in keeping with the commitment of the European Union to help strengthen the Philippines’ formal justice system through increased efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. With the Philippines having one of the highest congestion rates[1] in the world for detention facilities, COVID-19 positive cases and fatalities have been registered in several jails.
On April 20, 124 cases or 60% of the 207 confirmed cases nationwide, were reported from the BJMP facility in Cebu City.[2] As of May 3, the Department of Health records at least 249 inmates and 34 jail staff had tested positive for the illness.[3] More tests and protective equipment are therefore needed to contain the spread of infection in jails. Additional test kits and personal protective equipment will help the BJMP identify and treat positive cases immediately.
As a preventive measure against COVID-19, the BJMP prohibited all outsiders in detention facilities but through the eDalaw, it enables inmates to communicate with their families and lawyers through online video calls.
GOJUST is providing multimedia tablets and shall ensure connectivity for jails in justice zone areas. These equipment shall also support the pilot test of the hearing of criminal cases involving PDLs through video conferencing based on Supreme Court
Circular No. 90-2020.
The Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme is funded by the European Union (EU) with a value of over PHP900M.
GOJUST works primarily with the key justice sector institutions (Supreme Court, Department of Justice and Department of the Interior and Local Government) to 1) strengthen sector coordination and policy making, 2) creating space for reform implementation through decongestion and automation, and 3) generating resources for reform implementation through the improvement of administrative and financial management. The Programme runs from 2016 to June 2020.
09 May 2020
For more information, visit www.gojust.org
Criselle Capistrano-Cudiamat
09178556302; info@gojust.org
©Myrfi Gonzalez, UNOPS
[1] eDalaw or electronic Dalaw is a system being supported by GOJUST where a permanent space within a detention facility is dedicated to teleconferencing with relatives or lawyers.
[2] 4-5 persons cramped in a space designed for one detainee;
[3] Beat COVID-19 Situationer #008, Department of Health
[4] https://pcij.org/article/4032/before-covid-19-philippine-jails-already-a-death-trap?fbclid=IwAR1RA8UDwdAoAmt1tEa-TUCUfNxGONaEJro_lE5SNbncsns_zRIfSCX1MfA
EU supports National Justice Information System
EU supports National Justice Information System
Manila, 10 January 2020-
“The EU Delegation reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the justice sector in the country as it remains a key element in our cooperation portfolio”, said Mr. Thomas Wiersing, Charge d’Affaires of the EU Delegation.
Wiersing noted that the European Union, through the GOJUST Programme, provides valuable support for the development and implementation of the National Justice Information System (NJIS) providing a strong automated information management system.
The DOJ and the DILG signed an agreement to implement data sharing for the single carpeta system, making it possible to generate, share and analyse data on criminal cases. The single carpeta system, which forms part of the National Justice Information System (NJIS), unifies jail records where corrections agencies like BuCor and BJMP will refer to only one portal. Furthermore, the DOJ, DILG and their respective agencies, in an Agreement with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), will have the latter develop and host the NJIS information exchange platform.
The two Agreements contribute to the strengthening of case and data information management between various law enforcement and corrections agencies.
“We are pleased that the EU is able to help develop a National Justice Information System which could , in time, integrate other automated systems and institutional databases such as the eCourts system, prosecution case management system and other databases in a coordinated manner”, he said. “This will be a valuable contribution to the automation efforts of the government.”
Due to the momentum generated by the activities and initiatives supported by the GOJUST Programme, the goal of strengthening cooperation, communication and coordination among the various justice sector agencies are further realized.
Criselle Capistrano
Communications Officer, GOJUST Programme
09178556302
EU-Backed GOJUST Programme Hails Bacolod As Newest Justice Zone
EU-Backed GOJUST Programme Hails Bacolod As Newest Justice Zone
August 30, 2019—The European Union (EU), in its commitment to support justice sector reform in the Philippines, welcomed the establishment of Bacolod City as a Justice Zone by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC).
The JSCC, jointly headed by the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), named Bacolod City as a Justice Zone on the basis of JSCC Joint Resolution No. 05-2019 signed on August 15, 2019 at the Principals’ Meeting in Manila City.
Representatives from the European Union, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, and Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin spearheaded the launch of the newest Justice Zone at the Bacolod City New Government Center.
Justice Zones are areas where local justice sector agencies such as the police, prosecutors, judges, public attorneys, and managers of detentions facilities showed outstanding coordination in identifying and addressing common challenges.
The selection of Bacolod City as the newest Justice Zone reflects the city’s demonstration of converged justice sector reform efforts like jail and court decongestion, the implementation of an electronic court system, peace and order promotion, and efficient public service among others. These reforms make Bacolod City ready to institutionalize speedier coordination among justice sector agencies.
The launch was supported by the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) programme, which aims to facilitate increased communication, coordination and cooperation in the justice sector. To do this, the GOJUST programme taps JSCC at the national level and the roll out of the Justice Zone concept at the local level.
“The establishment of Bacolod City as the newest Justice Zone shows that the Philippines is making strides to bring about much-needed reforms in its justice system. By fostering cooperation between the Justice Sector Coordinating Council at the national level and the Justice Zone at the local level, we look forward to seeing more reforms on local justice coordination nationwide,” said EU Head of Cooperation Enrico Strampelli. “We are also grateful for the collective leadership of Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra and DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año for their commitment to advance this country’s justice reform agenda.”
Through an agreed structure and a two-way communication with the JSCC, piloting of new activities can take place within the Justice Zone. During the work planning of the Bacolod Justice Zone, stakeholders have proposed to strengthen the communication, coordination, and cooperation within and among criminal justice sector agencies. Stakeholders also agreed to maximize the newly approved guidelines on plea bargaining to get more drug users into rehabilitation instead of incarceration.
Bacolod City is the fifth Justice Zone in the Philippines, with the first being Quezon City – which was launched in 2014, followed by Cebu City in 2018. Other Justice Zones include Davao and Angeles City, which were both launched in the first half of 2019.
For more information, visit www.gojust.org
EU’s GOJUST Programme supports the Angeles City Justice Zone
EU’s GOJUST Programme supports the Angeles City Justice Zone
The European Union welcomes the establishment of the Angeles City Justice Zone by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) today, April 12, 2019, in support of justice sector reform in the Philippines.
The JSCC, jointly headed by the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, launches Angeles City as a Justice Zone on the basis of Joint Resolution 01-2019 signed on March 7, 2019 at the Principals’ Meeting held in Manila City.
The Justice Zone is an area where local justice sector agencies such as the police, the prosecutors, judges, public attorneys, and managers of detentions facilities, identify problems and arrive at common solutions to address them. Through an agreed structure, and through two-way communication with the JSCC, piloting of new activities take place within the Justice Zone. During the work planning of the Angeles City Justice Zone, the members have proposed to improve institutional case management by strengthening communication, coordination, and cooperation within and among criminal justice sector agencies, to enhance the capacity of criminal justice sector agencies through improved human resources, facilities and equipment, and to improve jail conditions, through among others, the paralegal program of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. Collectively, they have committed to move forward with reforms with the theme Abe-abe ban matibe (stronger together).
Angeles City is the fourth Justice Zone under the JSCC supported by the European Union. It has been selected because it has already pioneered justice sector reforms in the region. It is home to pilot projects such as eCourt, automated hearing, eSubpoena and e-Notice and is the site of a model Hall of Justice.
The first justice zone was launched in Quezon City in 2014 and continues to be an effective mechanism among justice sector agencies in the area. The European Union likewise supported the establishment of the Cebu City Justice Zone in 2018 and Davao City in March 2019 through the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme. “The European Union remains committed to the Philippine Development Plan by supporting the Justice Sector Coordinating Council at the national level and the Justice Zone at the local level”, said EU Ambassador Franz Jessen. “This initiative has been made possible under the collective leadership of Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra and DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año. We are confident that this event will spur similar efforts in other parts of the country on local justice coordination. “
EU Ambassador Jessen was joined by Austrian Ambassador Bita Rasoulian, Belgian Ambassador Michel Goffin, Hungarian Ambassador József Bencze, Netherlands Ambassador Elizabeth De Lang, and Spanish Ambassador Jorge Moragas.
The establishment of the new Justice Zone is supported by the GOJUST programme, a three-and-a-half-year justice sector support programme, funded by the EU, which supports the JSCC at the national level and the roll out of the Justice Zone concept at the local level as an important mechanism for sustainable and long-term reforms. GOJUST also works in the area of decongesting the dockets of the courts and the prosecution service, capacity building in financial and administrative management for justice sector agencies, and the automation of various services for case management and expedited hearings.
For more information, visit www.gojust.org
EU’s GOJUST Programme hails Naga as newest Justice Zone
EU’s GOJUST Programme hails Naga as newest Justice Zone
September 30, 2019—The European Union (EU), in its commitment to support justice sector reform in the Philippines, welcomed the establishment of Naga City as a Justice Zone by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC).
The JSCC, jointly headed by the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), named Naga City as a Justice Zone on the basis of JSCC Joint Resolution No. 05-2019 signed on August 15, 2019 at the Principals’ Meeting in Manila City.
Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the EU Delegation to the Philippines,Thomas Wiersing, Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, and DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año spearheaded the launch of the newest Justice Zone at the Naga City People’s Hall.
Justice Zones are areas where local justice sector stakeholders as the police, prosecutors, judges, public attorneys, and managers of detentions facilities work together to identify and address crosscutting challenges.
The selection of Naga City as the newest Justice Zone reflects the city’s demonstration of converged justice sector reform efforts like jail and court decongestion, the implementation of an electronic court system, peace and order promotion, and efficient public service among others. These reforms make Naga City ready to institutionalize speedier coordination among justice sector agencies.
The European Union’s Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme, which aims to facilitate increased communication, coordination and cooperation in the justice sector in the Philippines, aids in the development and creation of justice zones. To do this, GOJUST backs the JSCC at the national level and the rollout of the Justice Zone concept at the local level.
Naga City is the sixth Justice Zone in the Philippines. It is also the first Justice Zone in the Bicol region. The Philippines’ first Justice Zone was launched in Quezon City in 2014. Other Justice Zones in the country include Cebu, Davao, Angeles, and Bacolod cities.
“The establishment of Naga City as the newest Justice Zone demonstrates how the justice sector in different parts of the country is committed to accelerating much-needed reforms. With Justice Zones across the country emerging fast, we hope that they can be a springboard for a more efficient justice system throughout the country,” said Chargé d’Affaires Thomas Wiersing. “These achievements would not have been possible without the collective leadership and commitments of the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.”
Through an agreed structure and a two-way communication with the JSCC, piloting of new activities can take place within the Justice Zone. During the work planning of the Naga Justice Zone, stakeholders have committed to work together to strengthen communication, coordination, and cooperation within and among criminal justice sector agencies. Stakeholders also agreed to maximize the newly approved guidelines on plea bargaining to get more drug users into rehabilitation instead of incarceration.
For more information, visit www.gojust.org
The Cebu City Justice Zone celebrates its first anniversary: what has been achieved so far?
The Cebu City Justice Zone celebrates its first anniversary: what has been achieved so far?
- Launched on 4 October 2018, the Cebu City Justice Zone marks first year
- Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and University of San Carlos addresses jail congestion in Cebu City jails
- The European Union supports justice sector reform initiatives of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government through the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme. The support to the creation of justice zones is one of the activities of the GOJUST programme.
GOJUST hails the Cebu City Justice Zone as they mark their first year with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the University of San Carlos (USC) to address the issue of heavily congested jails in Cebu City.
Cebu City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Macaundas M. Hadjirasul, convenor of the Cebu City Justice Zone, led the Cebu City Justice Zone first anniversary ceremony at the BJMP women’s dorm in Kalunasan, Cebu City. Established in 4 October 2018, the Cebu City Justice Zone reported increased cooperation and collaboration among the justice sector stakeholders. The Cebu City JZ has facilitated talks between the BJMP and the Metro Cebu Water District resulting in a weekly delivery of 30,000 tons of water to the jail to address health and sanitation needs. With the help of the Supreme Court Office of the Court Administrator, a uniform court action on hospitalization and medical examination for persons deprived of liberty was established. A facility providing a conducive interview area at the BJMP Male dormitory was also turned over to the BJMP by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City Chapter, facilitated by the justice zone.
GOJUST remains to be a staunch supporter of the Cebu City Justice Zone and their activities and projects. With funds from the European Union, GOJUST has supported the training of personnel from the BJMP, Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, and Parole and Probation Administration, on the ASSIST BI (Alcohol Substance Smoke Involvement Screening Test Brief Intervention) Tool to address the processing of plea-bargaining in response to the Supreme Court Guidelines on Plea-bargaining for drugs cases. GOJUST will likewise support the installation of a visitor management and e-dalaw system at the BJMP male dormitory.
“We commend the Cebu City Justice Zone, led by Executive Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul. On your first year, your gains clearly demonstrate that coordination and cooperation at the local level makes justice delivery swifter and more efficient, said Christian Eldon, GOJUST Team Leader.
About GOJUST
With support from the European Union, the Justice Sector Reform Programme: Governance in Justice (GOJUST) supports the development and early implementation of a credible sector-wide long-term reform strategy through the provision of technical and financial assistance.
The Programme focuses on three inter-related components aimed respectively at laying the ground for reforms through i.) strengthening sector coordination and policy-making; ii) creating space for reform implementation through decongestion and automation; and iii) generating resources for reform through the improvement of administrative and financial management.
The programme will be implemented from April 2016 to June 2020.
About Justice Zones
Justice Zones are areas where local justice sector agencies such as the police, prosecutors, judges, public attorneys, and managers of detentions facilities showed outstanding coordination in identifying and addressing common challenges. Through an agreed structure and a two-way communication with the JSCC, piloting of new activities can take place within the Justice Zone.