By Althea Dela Cruz
It is undeniable that access to justice in the country can be a long and tiring process–and for people like Nanay Evelyn, this means going through the same path to the barangay for more than ten years before getting the decision they need to proceed.
In her words “Kung lupa lang ang kalsada dito, maputik na siguro sa ilang beses na pabalik-balik ako”. In Barangay Tinago of Naga City where nanay reports in, cases, especially those non-urgent, often take years before they can be addressed. With the Barangay trying to cater to all its constituents to the best of its abilities, it just really is a challenging process.
Most barangays have a limited number of individuals taking on cases, for most of them, the Barangay Secretary plays a crucial role in ensuring that the people who have reported will have access to the support that they need. However, with one secretary scheduling everything, it can be overwhelming. This inspired Ateneo de Naga University to develop the legal aid desks— to help decongest the courts and barangays in Naga by having a first lane of legal assistance to help its citizens with their legal concerns. Undeniably, the existence of the legal aid desks has significantly helped in easing the burden of the barangay to handle cases that could have been addressed earlier on.
For many individuals like Nanay Evelyn, having the legal aid desk has been a great help, especially for those who are not well-versed in the law.
“I am very grateful, ambilis ng usad ng mga kaso, having the desks in the barangay, even if they were students, gave the Lupon Members and the residents, a boost in their confidence knowing that they could confide with someone who knows about the law and could guide them in the process”
For those seeking legal help and justice, like Nanay Evelyn, the desks are not merely tables that students go on to twice a week, for them, it is a chance— that the cases that they have been facing can be solved and that they will be able to reach the end of the muddy road.
The Legal Aid Desk Program is conducted by Ateneo de Naga University in partnership with the 27 Barangays in Naga City, an entity that handles barangay-level concerns and plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of its citizens. With funding from the European Union, the PROJECT MAGIS of Ateneo de Naga University, together with the EU-GOJUST, and its implementing partners, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the British Council, have helped barangays decongest their cases through assistance for their legal concerns.