ILOILO – New Lucena town is positioning itself as a major training hub for the country’s justice system after donating a second government property in less than a month, this time for a Department of Justice (DOJ) training center.
The latest donation involves a one-hectare, or 10,000-square-meter, property in Barangay Guinobatan, where the DOJ plans to establish a facility to strengthen the training of prosecutors, justice personnel and law enforcement officers.
DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida and New Lucena Mayor Carl Vincent Mondejar signed the deed of donation on October 27 at the Casa Real de Iloilo Grand Social Hall, witnessed by Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and Regional State Prosecutor Louie Doligosa.
The agreement follows the municipality’s October 8 donation of a two-hectare, or 20,000-square-meter, property in the same barangay for the Visayas training center of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA).
That earlier agreement was signed in the presence of Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.
Together, the two donations place 30,000 square meters of land in New Lucena at the disposal of two major institutions responsible for strengthening the country’s justice system.
Vida welcomed the latest donation, citing the DOJ’s growing demand for training facilities as it expands its workforce and strengthens coordination with law enforcement agencies.
“For the past three years, the average we’ve been training is more than 3,000 employees. In addition to that, we have trained more than 9,000 law enforcement officers and agents pursuant to our case-building efforts so we are able to file better cases in court. This type of interdependence is most welcomed,” Vida said.
The planned facility is expected to support the department’s continuing efforts to improve case preparation, prosecution and institutional capabilities.
Defensor, meanwhile, reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to supporting justice-related infrastructure and programs.
“We look forward to working more closely with your department in our development programs and projects,” the governor told Secretary Vida.
Also present during the signing were DOJ Undersecretary Garney Candelaria, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Iloilo Chapter president Atty. Mehelinda Penetrante, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Dennis Ventilacion, Second District Rep. Kathy Gorriceta, League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Iloilo president Atty. Suzette Mamon, and New Lucena officials.
The two projects are expected to strengthen New Lucena’s role in the development of legal education and professional training in the Visayas, although construction schedules have yet to be announced./PN
