Councilor Nilo Sayson is pushing for the institutionalization of the City Legal Assistance Program, to continue various programs whoever is the mayor of Dumaguete City .

Sayson said the proposed CLAP ordinance intends to provide free legal assistance to indigent Dumagueteños and local government workers charged with cases arising from the performance of their official duties.

In criminal cases the office of the city legal assistance service shall limit its services to defending the accused or respondents, he added.

Sayson said the program is supported by the law schools of Silliman University , Foundation University and Negros Oriental State University , in Dumaguete.

The program has an approved budget of P200,000 annually coming from the surplus of the city.

Aside from free legal services, the CLAP also provides free legal laboratory in legal techniques, counseling, research, alternative dispute resolution for law students in Dumaguete, legal training to barangay residents in line with community empowerment, assist indigents in complying with legal forms, opinion, advise or comment, provided the client's interest is not opposed to that of the city, Sayson added.*JG

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