A new government initiative aims to provide legal and psychosocial aid to individuals in crisis situations, ensuring access to justice and social assistance.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on March 3 to implement the Client Referral and Psychosocial Intervention Program.
Under the agreement, the DOJ Action Center (DOJAC) will refer individuals in need of legal aid to the DSWD, which will assess their eligibility for financial and psychosocial assistance.
The program is designed to help indigent complainants, litigants, and crime victims navigate the justice system while addressing their social welfare needs.
“Justice does not end in the courtroom but continues in the lives of the people we uplift and the dignity we restore,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said during the signing ceremony at the DOJ Central Office in Manila.
The program seeks to bridge the gap between legal proceedings and the broader needs of individuals facing injustice.
DSWD social workers will evaluate referred clients to determine appropriate interventions, which may include financial aid, medical assistance, psychological support, and transportation or funeral expenses.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized that the partnership is a step toward social justice, aligning the DSWD’s social protection mandate with the DOJ’s role in upholding the rule of law.
“Through this initiative, the government ensures that the poor and vulnerable are not left behind in their pursuit of justice,” he said.
The initiative follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for government agencies to work together in delivering comprehensive services under the administration’s vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas.”
The signing ceremony was also attended by DOJ Undersecretaries Raul Vasquez and Margarita Gutierrez, as well as DSWD Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez.
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