Pahinungod: Salonga Law Center Orients Barangay Officials
December 3, 2006
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Salonga Law Center student volunteers with the Center's Director Atty. Mikhail Lee Maxino during the first Pahinungod legal orientation conducted in Barangay San Antonio, Sibulan.

       In pioneering Transformative Law, the Dr. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development started its “Pahinungod” program by conducting a legal orientation for the barangay officials and tanods of Barangay San Antonio in the Municipality of Sibulan, Negros Oriental last December 3, 2006.

       The “Pahinungod” program was established for the purpose of reaching out to the various barangays here and outside the province in providing them information and assistance on legal matters and issues.

       Barangay San Antonio, Sibulan was the first barangay where a legal orientation was conducted under the said program. The orientation was organized by the Director of the Salonga Law Center, Atty. Mikhail Lee Maxino, together with student volunteers from the Silliman University (SU) College of Law, some of which also had lectures on the various topics.

       The half-day orientation was conducted at the San Antonio Barangay Hall. Twenty-six barangay officials and tanods attended the orientation headed by Barangay Captain Narciso Catan.

       According to Atty. Maxino, a full-time professor at the SU College of Law, there is a need to explain the interpretation and enforcement of our laws to the barangay officials and tanods for the improvement of the peace and order situation since the barangay is the basic political unit in our society.

       ”Disputes are being brought to the barangay level before cases are filed and prosecuted. Teaching them the effective techniques of mediation would declog court dockets leading to quality justice,” he stressed.

Salonga Law Center Director Atty. Mikhail Lee Maxino gives a lecture on barangay negotiation and mediation processes as the officials and tanods listen attentively.

       The matters discussed during the orientation include the duties of the barangay tanods; arrest, search and seizure; barangay negotiation and mediation processes; and the negotiation and mediation techniques.

       ”You can tell from the reaction of the barangay people during the orientation that such activity is really helpful to them when performing their functions and responsibilities. On the students’ side, that was truly learning – service learning. We hope the activity could serve as a stepping stone to more productive orientations,” Maxino said.

       The Dr. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development also focuses on environmental law, social justice and human rights, and labor and agrarian reform laws. Its office is located at the first floor of the Villareal Hall, Silliman University, Dumaguete City. (by Christy Ann Marie R. Cong)

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