Improving Governance to Reduce Poverty ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR THE POOR
    The Philippine Contitution guarantees the right of every Filipino to adequate legal assistance and access to justice system. For instance, Section 11 of Article III provides that "free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty." Yet, notwithstanding this constitutional guarantee, court access remains a problem among the poor.

    The document of the Access to Justice for the Poor Project identifies serious causes that affect legal access. One of these is the lack of adequate information on the part of those coming from the disadvataged sectors, particularly the poor. Many are unaware of their judicial right and, therefore cannot assert them. Formal court rules and procedures and the high cost of court litigation oftentimes intimidate the poor from pursuing their rights in court.

    Another concern is the limitations on the part of those entrusted witht the dispensation of justice. There is a need to continually equip and train police officers, prosecutors and court personnel with adequate working knowledge and understanding of the latest developments in laws, regulations, jurisprudence, and court issuances, particularly those affecting the rights of marginalized sectors. Tha lack of manpower and logistical resources constrain these service providers from giving adequate attention to the legal needs of the poor.

    The concept paper also claims a need to assess the Barangay Justice Systems (BJS) as a primary screening mechanism for referral to the courts of disputes between residents of the same unit, and to identify means to strengthen the system in accordance with the Revised Katarungang Pambarangay Law, for example, through the provision of regular training for the members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa in employing a mediation system to help resolve conflicts at the local level.

    It further believes that coordination among the different agencies involved in the dispesation of justice is essential in spreading proper information, such as those concerning their rights and the proper venue and procedure to enforce them.

The Project

    The "Access to Justice for the Poor Project (AJPP)" is a joint venture ofthe Government of the Philippines and the European Union (EU) that aims to strengthen the capabilities of key players of our justice system to empower the poor, particularly women and children, to pursue justice through increased knowledge about their basic rights and the judicial system.

    The noble objective of the AJPP is aptly put in it's theme "Kaalaman sa Hustisya, Kapangyarihan ng Masa."