The Department of Justice will put up more Action Centers in other parts of the country and set up a social media account to provide free legal consultations to the public.
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete revealed that DOJAC will be established in Cagayan de Oro, which would become the first DOJAC outside of its main office in Padre Faura, Manila.
“The DOJAC aims to provide legal assistance/ legal counseling to walk in clients. Our target is to establish a DOJAC in Luzon, Visayas and in Mindanao. For Luzon, so far the DOJAC is at the main building but we might put up one in Ilocos, but we are still looking for funds to set up an office,” said Perete, who also serves as DOJ spokesperson
Perete said they are also looking for an available spaces in the Visayas and are considering Cebu or Iloilo as the location.
According to the Justice official, the DOJAC has been in existence for 16 years but they have been unable to expand their service because of lack of available spaces to set up the center and there is no budget yet allocated to assign lawyers to man the centers and answer queries regarding legal matters.
Besides the setting up of DOJAC outside Manila, Perete said they are also planning of offering free legal advice online to cater to those who are in need of legal guidance, but could not afford the services of a lawyer.
“We do not have this kind of capacity right now, but we are looking into making free legal services accessible online either by incorporating it in the DOJ website or creating its own account,” she said.
The DOJAC has been intended to entertain those seeking legal advice, offer mediations that could lead to drafting of contracts or agreements, and refer domestic violence and other incidents to the proper agencies such as the barangay, National Prosecution Service, court or appropriate police station.