Uniform fee for plaints filed at Lupon sought

The chairman of the city council's committee on laws wants the collection of filing fees from those who will file complaints before the Lupong Tagapamayapa to be standardized at P20 per case.

Councilor Edgardo Labella said the collections from the filing fees are to be spent only for projects that enhance the knowledge of the Lupon members about proper mediation.

Labella has observed that the collection of filing fees from the complainants of cases filed before the Lupong Tagapamayapa in different city barangays is not uniform, as some collect P20 and P50 while others do not to collect filing fees, unless it involves collection of debt.

Section 410 of the Local Government Code authorized the collection of filing fees from those persons that has a cause of action against another before the Lupong Tagapamayapa.

Labella said a report from the Liga ng mga Lupong Tagapamayapa in Cebu City showed that more than half of the city's 80 barangays collect filing fees and certification fees in varied amounts, while the rest of the barangays do not.

"Standardizing the amount of filing fees and certification fees to be imposed and collected by the barangays as well as the utilization of the same would undeniably enhance the implementation of all Katarungang Pambarangay activities for the welfare of the public," Labella said.

Because of this, Labella filed a proposed ordinance to set the filing fees at P20 while the certification fee will be P50 in all city barangays. If Labella's proposed ordinance is approved, it is mandated that the sum from the collection of filing and certification fees shall be deposited as a special fund and shall be used only for projects of Lupong Tagapamayapa in the city.

The Katarungang Pambarangay, otherwise known as the barangay justice system, was first created during the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos when he issued Presidential Decree 1508.

But it scope widened when PD 1508 was amended and was incorporated into the Local Government Code in - Rene U. Borromeo1991.