Various offices and bureaus of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Central, Regional, and City Offices joined the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Training Programs of the Katarungang Pambarangay held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at the DILG-NAPOLCOM Center, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

The FGD is one of the preliminary activities under Phase 2 of the Implementation of a Child-Friendly, Gender-Responsive, and Indigenous People-Relevant Katarungang Pambarangay (KP Project), an access to justice project under the Governance in Justice Programme II (GOJUST II) of the European Union and is being implemented by the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) in partnership with the DILG-National Barangay Operations Office (DILG-NBOO).

DILG-NBOO Director Dennis Villaseñor formally opened the FGD by highlighting the activity’s special significance as it was designed as a platform for consultation to engage in meaningful dialogue on the Katarungang Pambarangay trainings. 

Atty. Ray Paolo Santiago, Executive Director of AHRC, also underscored that the effectiveness of the Katarungang Pambarangay is at the core of Access to Justice. “In order for our Katarungang Pambarangay to effectively render justice, it needs the support of the different offices of the DILG in capacitating and ensuring the effectiveness of its mechanisms,” Atty. Santiago said. 

He further expressed the importance of reviewing the existing programs and reflecting on what we can do to make these mechanisms work and ensure that justice is delivered to our citizens, especially to those who are most in need.

The FGD served as a platform for representatives of different bureaus under the DILG to streamline, map, and align the processes and mandates of their own offices. Atty. Paula Estrella, KP Project’s Program Manager, highlighted the FGD’s relevance in identifying possible ways of better coordination between relevant bureaus within the DILG in relation to Katarungang Pambarangay trainings from review of its training content, policy, and implementation. A mapping of the DILG offices and their respective mandates related to the Katarungang Pambarangay and Katarungang Pambarangay training was presented to the participants for their feedback. 

Through this comprehensive discussion, participants were able to provide their inputs and assessment on AHRC’s current understanding and research of the different offices’ existing roles and responsibilities. After reviewing the current mandates and roles of each office, best practices and lessons were exchanged on how KP Trainings can be better implemented and sustained by the DILG.  

This FGD convened relevant DILG bureaus and offices who are involved in both the Katarungang Pambarangay and its trainings. Among those who were present during the discussion were NBOO representatives Mr. Joseph Talavera, Ms. Ellen S. Mahinay, and Mr. Simeon Garcia, Atty. Anjelo Saturnino and Ms. Berenice Tarnate from the BLGS, and Ms. Haide Canalita from the Local Governance Training and Development Division under the Local Government Academy. They were joined by several representatives from the DILG Regions VII and XI as well as DILG Davao City and Cebu City, namely: Mr. Edwin Monceda, Ms. Rosanna Jane Cabang, Ms. Jessica Itil, Ms. Evelyn Deocampo, and Mr. Jade Baylon.
Atty. Estrella concluded the FGD by reiterating the importance of everyone’s involvement in the conduct of the training programs on Katarungang Pambarangay moving forward, especially because building the capacity of the Lupon and barangay officials is crucial in improving access to justice in communities.