THE ordinance establishing a legal help desk in the 61 barangays of Bacolod City was approved by the City Council on its third and final reading.
The ordinance was authored by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor, chairperson of the City Council committee on agriculture and agrarian concerns.
Verdeflor said these barangays, although considered the smallest administrative division, served as the primary planning and implementing arm of government policies, plans, programs projects and activities in the community.
She said the barangay also served as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed crystalized and considered and where disputes may be amicably settled.
“The establishment of a legal help desk in every barangay will make access to justice for everyone, a reality,” she added.
Section 4 of the ordinance stated that the village chief shall set up the legal desk help in the barangay hall, designating an area therein for that purpose, and providing for the necessary furniture, fixtures, office supplies, bookshelves, and filing cabinets for recordkeeping.
Verdeflor said the services rendered by legal help desk team shall be without remuneration.
She said the pro-bono, which means for the public good, for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment, services of members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) or those of practicing lawyers shall constitute hours rendered of free legal aid work to indigent clients as pre-condition for their good standing in IBP.
She added the City Council through its committee on barangay affairs shall monitor and submit a report on the establishment of legal help desks in the city’s barangays.
Section 6 of the ordinance stated that to recognize the hard work and pro-bono services rendered by the legal help desk team of the barangays to the public, there shall be a city’s search for outstanding legal help desk, the awarding of which shall be held every December of each year.