In Palawan, 'Green Justice Zone' for environmental issues and concerns is launched

The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) — composed of the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government — on Friday launched a specialty justice zone for environmental issues and concerns in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

“Puerto Princesa is henceforth the first Green Justice Zone,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in his message at the event.

According to Remulla, the launching will intensify the coordination between the five pillars of criminal justice, particularly on the adjudication process for environment-related cases and other environmental initiatives.

“The DOJ, for its part, strives to perform its role and duty in the fight for environmental conservation and protection,” the Justice Secretary said.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the Green Justice Zone is the JSCC’s contribution to afford the public the constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology.

“In our Puerto Princesa Green Zone, the justice sector actors will deliver responsive and real-time justice services to our constituents,” he said.

According to Gesmundo, the JSCC will launch a “Green Book” for the Green Justice Zone, a manual for handling environmental cases. He said the manual will detail the end-to-end processes and procedures for cases impacting the environment.

“Streamlining of rules and procedures will be the target with the result being greater efficiency and speed in the handling of these cases,” Gesmundo said.

Gesmundo said the JSCC is aware of the existential threat of climate change.

“We cannot do enough. But no effort is too small. We all have a responsibility to ourselves and to one another to keep the environment healthy; otherwise, we lose the only place we all call home,” he said.

For his part, Interior Chief Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the Green Justice Zone will focus on environmental protection and proper management of natural resources.

“Hindi natin mapo-protektahan ang ating kalikasan kung hindi natin maipapatupad nang maayos ang ating mga batas [we cannot protect the environment if we cannot implement our laws]. The protection of our environment must be parallel with our efforts to enforce our already-instituted legal mechanisms,” Abalos said.

He said the DILG will make sure that the Green Justice Zone will be a fertile ground for collaboration between local governments and the national government.

“Together with our attached agencies, particularly the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, we will work with everyone in the justice sector to ensure that fair delivery of environmental justice will face no unnecessary delays,” he said.

“The active participation and coordination of our local government units, at all levels, will also be essential in the attainment of this goal,” he added.

The Green Justice Zone is the third specialty justice zone launched by the JSCC.

The first specialty justice zone on trafficking in persons was launched in Zamboanga City while the second, a specialty justice zone on economic development and tourism, was launched in Tagaytay City.

Meanwhile, other justice zones are in Quezon City, Cebu City, Davao City, Angeles City, Bacolod City, Naga City, Calamba City, Balanga City, and Baguio City. — LA, GMA Integrated News