Capitol officials formalize request

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of the Provincial Government have formally requested President Benigno Aquino III to allocate funds for the construction of a new Palace of Justice in Cebu.

 This is response to the request of Senate President Franklin Drilon to Governor Hilario Davide III and other Capitol officials to ask Aquino to include in the 2015 national budget the P500 million initial funding for the Hall of Justice.

 In a resolution sponsored by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and all PB Members, the Province of Cebu expressed willingness to donate an identified lot it owns to the Supreme Court for the construction of a new Palace of Justice.

 â€œHowever, the project may only be realized if sufficient funds will be allocated for the purpose,” read the approved PB resolution.

 Drilon had pledged to help include P1 billion in the national budget in the next two years.

 He advised Capitol officials to prioritize the funding request and decide on the location, detailed engineering plans and design later.

 The funding request still has to reach Malacañang before Congress convenes on July 28 and the executive department is required to submit the proposed budget to Congress within 30 days after Congress convenes.

 Drilon explained that if the appropriation for the Cebu Hall of Justice is not included in the budget call and in the President’s budget for 2015, there can be no appropriation in 2015 and have to wait for 2016 before they can start the Hall of Justice.

 Drilon, a former justice secretary, assured Davide of his support for the project.

 The Province of Cebu earlier offered the Capitol-owned lot in M. Velez street where the Department of Agriculture-7 offices were located, as well as a site in Barangay Kalunasan.

The Chief Justice Marcelo B. Fernan Hall of Justice, formerly known as the Palace of Justice inside the Capitol compound was rendered unfit for occupancy following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in October last year.

 The said edifice is formerly home to the Regional Trial Court and Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judges, Clerks of Courts; Regional Provincial and City Prosecutors, Parole and Probation Officers, as well as other officers charged with the dispensation of justice.

 After the building was declared unsafe, the former occupants therein have been contenting themselves with open makeshift tents to serve as their temporary offices.

 Recently, the former occupants of the Palace of Justice have been transferred in a rented building at Qimonda IT Center in the North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.  (FREEMAN)