MANILA — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday led the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Department of Justice (DOJ) Administration building in Manila.
“I promised that we will all endeavor to make the DOJ better, far better than when we found it. Today, as we break ground to herald the construction of our new DOJ Administration Building, we are one step closer towards realizing that promise,” Aguirre said in his welcome remarks.
“Expect to feel, to see and to experience more meaningful changes for a better DOJ this 2018. In return I only ask that you serve our people well in the name of justice. Please help me make all the buildings that we will erect a bastion for justice and a monument for dedicated public service,” the DOJ Secretary added.
According to DOJ Undersecretary for Finance and Administration Reynante Mecate, the PHP50-million administration building shall house the essential administrative support services for the department proper and for prosecutors’ offices throughout the country.
Aside from the Administration Building, the DOJ chief will also lead the groundbreaking ceremony of the much awaited DOJ Academy and Training Center in Tagaytay City on Friday, where all the trainings, including free MCLEs (Mandatory Continuing Legal Educations) for the lawyers will be conducted.
Mecate said the PHP90-million DOJ Academy in Tagaytay would host continuing education, trainings and seminars for the prosecutors, lawyers and other personnel.
He said that the foregoing investments would improve the delivery of essential legal services with more lawyers and personnel better trained and capable to meet the increased demands, rigors and needs of the people.
“The returns of these investments are to be measured in the fulfillment of public service and our mandate to serve the people with justice and the rule of law,” Mecate said. (PNA) By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
