The Supreme Court (SC) and the Navotas government have joined forces as they officially launched the Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJoW) in the city primarily aimed at providing easy and fast resolution on pending cases at the metropolitan trial courts.
The “justice on wheels” was made possible through the effort of SC Associate Justice and EJoW committee chairman Mariano del Castillo and Mayor John Reynald Tiangco, said Ms. Jayne Banayad, public information officer.
“The program is expected to provide easy and fast resolution to pending cases in our metropolitan trial court,” according to Tiangco in an interview with members of the Camanava Press Corps.
“Since the city only has one trial court, this program will surely help many Navotenos whose cases may be decided upon immediately by the series of hearings with the assistance of Malabon Regional Trial Court,” the Navotas mayor said.
In a related development, Tiangco said the local government unit has been pushing the approval of House Bill 04471 authored by Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco.
HB 04471 seeks the creation of “three additional branches of the Regional Trial Court and two additional branches of the Metropolitan Trial Courts to be stationed in the city of Navotas.
The Navotas lawmaker’s proposed bill also seeks to “amend for the purpose Section 14, Paragraph (D) and Section 27 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980’ as amended and appropriate funds therefor.”
“The bill has been approved by the House of Representatives last May 23, 2011 and has been endorsed to the Senate for approval on May 23, 2011,” the city representative said.
Rep. Tiangco, the long-time Navotas mayor before he was succeeded by his younger brother in 2010, cited in his speech the importance of the EJoW program, especially the lecture for the barangay officials in solving cases in the barangay level to avoid piling up of minor cases and congestion in jail.
“As we know, barangays are the only arms of the government which exercise executive, judiciary and legislative work. It is important that they undergo continuous trainings on the creation and implementation of our laws, ordinances,” he said.
“This will also lessen the financial burden of the LGU to support the medical, dental and daily food supply of the inmates,” Rep. Tiangco said.
In brief, Del Castillo said  “since 2004, EJoW was able to release 6,727 inmates, dismissed 13, 370 cases through mediation, provide medical and dental services to 14,699 inmates and give free lecture on dealing with cases in the barangay level to 20,347 barangay officials.”
“EJoW will soon reach other cities, municipalities and provinces that need legal assistance,” the high court associate justice said.
He along with Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez also entertained a dialog between the members of the lower court and visited the Bureau of Jail and Management Penology  to resolve or note arising issues in their respective offices.