Hall of Justice to rise in Talisay

The Department of Justice has released P5 million to the Talisay City government for the construction of a Hall of Justice, with works to begin next month.

The building will house the offices of the Regional Trial Court and the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, as well as the DOJ offices in the city.

Earlier, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales signed a memorandum of agreement "after seeing the great need of a suitable and separate edifice for a more dignified location of all offices directly concerned and involved with the justice system."

The city government donated a lot at the back of the city hall building measuring 1,000 square meters for the edifice.

Under the memorandum of agreement, the DOJ would set aside an amount under the President's Justice System Infrastructure Program. The DOJ will provide the city with the complete architectural and engineering plans.

City assistant engineer Gamaliel Vincent, Jr. yesterday said his office is almost through with the design of the edifice - roof deck, classical Corinthian columns combined with Doric orders, and pre-cast decorative elements.

Vincent projected that construction works will be completed by November this year. The building is to be inaugurated on December with the presence of Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. who is set to retire from the judiciary service this year.