The three-branches of the Philippine government, the executive, legislative and judicial, signed on Tuesday an agreement to better cooperate among themselves in pursuit of the rule of law and national development, reported the official Philippines News Agency.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) creating the Judiciary, Executive and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC) was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Senate President Manuel Villar, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno during a ceremony in the Malacanang presidential palace, said the report.
Addressing the ceremony, Arroyo said that consultation and cooperation among members of the three branches of government would advance "shared priorities in the national interest and welfare of all Filipinos", according to the report.
Arroyo also praised the MOA signing as "a historic moment in our Constitutional democracy."
"We envision JELAC to be the venue where representatives of the three branches can identify issues pertaining to the primacy of the rule of law and formulate and undertake solutions to strengthen due process and the institutions of justice, and implement our laws more effectively for the betterment of every Filipino," the report quoted Arroyo as saying.
Arroyo said JELAC's mandate is centered on the rule of law, adding that cooperation between the three branches is crucial to national development.
Under the agreement, JELAC is mandated to serve as the forum and venue for the representatives of the three branches of government in undertaking measures on matters affecting the primacy of the rule of law, identifying the problems and issues, formulating solutions, and implementing them, according to the report.
The Council will also formulate solutions to further strengthen the judiciary such as the budgetary and infrastructure requirements, creation of new positions and filling up of vacancies, career development program, compensation and security of judicial officials and security of tenure, said the report.
Source: Xinhua
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