A total of 29 batches have completed the roll-out trainings in the implementation of the Access to Justice for the Poor Project to advocate against violence of women and children, a Department of Social Welfare and Development press release said.

The inter-agency project is aimed at building and strengthening the capabilities of key players of the justice system. It is jointly implemented by the Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, DSWD, the Supreme Court and the Alternative Law Groups.

Six batches graduated in Panay; President Roxas, Pontevedra, Pilar, Ivisan, Dao, and Cuartero, three each, and Sigma, and Jamindan, two each, the press release said.

In Western Visayas, Capiz province is the only target area of the project with 11 municipalities covered.

Facilitated by the Gerry Rojas Foundation and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, women volunteers are trained on laws protecting women and their children, how to access justice and their roles as women and children rights advocates, the press release added.*

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Upgrade capability,
WV barangays urged

Region 6 director Evelyn Trompeta of the Department of Interior and Local Government urged barangay officials to improve their capabilities, during the opening of the Orientation for Newly-Elected Barangay Officials in Western Visayas recently, a DILG press release said.

The first phase of the training consisted of basic orientation on the duties and functions of barangay officials, while the second phase will aim at enhancing the functionality of barangay-based institutions, such as the development committee, disaster coordinating committee, peace and order committee and the council for the protection of children, the press release said.

Trompeta said barangay officials may also opt to undertake special skills training on governance, administration, social services, environmental management and economic development, before the year ends.

Trainings to be undergone by local officials should be included in their Capacity Development Plan, or in the case of barangays, in their Annual Appropriation for 2008, she added.*

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Right to access to
information bill approved

Speaker Prospero Nograles yesterday vowed to institutionalize and strengthen the country’s legal mechanism that promotes the people’s right of access to information on matters of public concern as guaranteed by the Constitution, a press release from his office said.

“The people’s right to know is sacred. We just passed the enabling legislation giving life to the constitutionally mandated right of access to information which also promotes people empowerment,” Nograles said in the press release.

The House of Representatives this week approved on third reading House Bill 3732, or an Act implementing the Right of Access to information on matters of public concern guaranteed under Section seven, Article III of the 1987 Constitution and for other purposes, principally sponsored by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III.

Nograles expressed confidence that the House-approved bill will be among the priorities of the Senate because “we all believe in the principle that the constitutional powers of government emanates from the people.”

Abante and Tañada, during the plenary defense of the bill, said the proposed law will ease the burden of the general public in obtaining information from all government offices, the press release said.

HB 3732 covers all government offices in the executive, legislative and judiciary, including local government, government-controlled and financial institutions, SUCs, Constitutional Commissions and other offices created by the Constitution.

Abante said, however, that exempted from the coverage of the proposed law are those declared by the President as “classified information”, information on internal and external defenses and law enforcement purposes, information obtained by Congress in an executive session, information on medical and personal records which could constitute invasion of privacy, and information pertaining to on-going treaty negotiations, among others, the press release added.*

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Day of the Family marked

Families converged at SM City Iloilo on Thursday for the observance of International Day of the Family on the theme, “Fathers and Families; Responsibilities and Challenges,” a Department of Social Welfare and Development press release said.

The “Pamilya, Pa-Picture ‘Ta” was opened for families at the mall.

The theme this year emphasizes the role of the father in the family and its important responsibilities and special challenges, Lucita Villanueva, of DSWD, said.

Assistant regional director Alexander Valenciano of National Economic Development Authority, and Salvador Ferrer, of the Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities in Iloilo City gave testimonies during the program, the press release said.

Officer-in-charge of the Technical Assistance Division Rebecca Geamala, facilitated the taking of pictures.

Also present were Pastor Richard Masangcay of the West Visayas Conference, and Pastor Torres, Iloilo Stake President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the press release added.*

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