Justice Zones Renew Efforts to Fix System Delays
The Supreme Court (SC), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have intensified efforts to resolve persistent issues in the justice system. These challenges include delays in case investigation and prosecution, low conviction rates, crowded court dockets, and overflowing detention centers. The joint move highlights the importance of the justice zones approach in tackling these problems.
Last June 4, officials from these agencies and other justice sector stakeholders convened in Pasig City for the National Justice Zone summit. The gathering reviewed progress made under the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), which leads the establishment and management of justice zones nationwide.
What Are Justice Zones?
Justice zones (JZs) are collaborative platforms where judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, and local government representatives meet regularly. Their goal is to improve coordination, share information, and address delays and accountability issues in justice delivery. Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo described JZs as spaces that “maximize coordination among different agency actors to address the perennial issue of delay and the greater problem of accountability.”
Since the JSCC’s creation in 2010 and the start of justice zones in 2014, 16 zones have been established across the country. Six of these are Specialty Zones, focusing on specific concerns such as environmental protection in Puerto Princesa City, economic development in Tagaytay City, human trafficking in Zamboanga City, and child sexual abuse and online exploitation in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, and Ozamiz City.
Other justice zones operate in major cities like Quezon City, Cebu, Davao, Angeles, Bacolod, Naga, Calamba, Balanga, Baguio, and Dagupan.
Collaborative Approach Yields Results
Chief Justice Gesmundo emphasized the power of collaboration over blame. “Instead of pointing fingers, we in the JSCC said, let’s sit down and hammer a path forward, together, as one sector,” he said. This spirit gave rise to the “whole of government approach,” promoting open communication and principled cooperation while respecting each agency’s independence.
The justice zones have led to impactful initiatives: reformation and reintegration programs for drug offenders in Davao City, enhanced anti-human-trafficking campaigns in Zamboanga, legal aid caravans in Cebu, gender-based violence awareness in Baguio, child protection education in Iligan, support for children in conflict with the law in Calamba, barangay workshops on child safety in Ozamiz, and digital transparency boards in Naga City.
Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Gesmundo envisions a Justice Zone across the entire country. “Imagine a tomorrow when the whole country will be a Justice Zone, where justice delivery is accessible to every man, woman, and child 24/7,” he said. He hopes for transparent systems that the public easily understands and accountability mechanisms for justice sector actors.
Other summit speakers included DILG and DOJ undersecretaries, representatives from the Court of Appeals, local city officials, and international partners. Their participation reflects the broad support for the justice zones and the ongoing reforms.
As local leaders noted, the justice zones model shows promise in tackling deep-rooted problems by fostering unity and cooperation across the justice system.
For more news and updates on justice zones, visit Filipinokami.com.