City Studies P1M Allocation for Free Legal-aid

The Cebu City government may allocate at least P1 million to assist the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the Public Attorney’s Office (PA) to improve their legal-aid program in providing free legal services to indigent litigants.

Councilor Gerardo “Gerry” Carillo who is also a lawyer by profession said there is a need for strong and adequately staffed lawyers to meet their needs in helping the indigent litigants.

“Pro bono isn’t free, it takes staff and it costs money to operate an efficient and effective pro bono program. It would mean that there would be sufficient legal services to meet the crisis legal needs of our low-income neighbors,” Carillo said.

According to Carillo there is a need to allocate an amount in order to build a sufficiently staff program to serve the client-community in partnership of the IBP and PAO’s pro bono efforts.

Carillo further explained that the city’s legal aid program in a form of financial assistance to IBP and PAO will encourage the lawyers to do their share for those clients who cannot afford to hire the services of a private counsel.

Although Carillo’s fellow city legislators had agreed that his proposal is for the public’s benefits, but the resolution allocating P1 million has been referred first to the Committee on Budget and Finance of the City Council for further study.

Carillo attached to his proposed resolution the copy of this year’s appropriation ordinance, but there was no allocation there for any financial assistance for legal-aid program.

Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, head of the City Council’s budget and finance committee, is scheduled to give her report about it in one of their sessions next month.