To further strengthen the justice system in the country, especially in the Visayas region, Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin over the weekend launched the so-called Justice Zone project in Cebu City.

This, as Bersamin acknowledged the Cebu City government’s efforts in adhering to his initiatives of promoting swift and fair administration of justice.

The project is one of the initiatives of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council to help decongest jail in various highly-urbanized areas in the country.

It was supported by the Justice Sector Reform and GOJUST Program under financial grant by the European Union.

Bersamin was extremely elated after seeing a harmonious and cooperative atmosphere among the justice sector agencies, as led by the judiciary, especially in Cebu City.

“I saw Cebu City’s efforts to achieve the overall objective of having a swift and fair administration of justice, under your immediate objective of increased efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system,” Bersamin said.

The project was first launched in Quezon City before Cebu City came next due to over congestion of jails in the said cities.

The Justice Zone will also roll out soon in Angeles City and Davao City.

The project aims to decongest courts, e-courts and efforts to combat human trafficking.

In Cebu, GOJUST has supported the joint training between the Department of Health and other concerned agencies, such as the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Cebu Provincial jail personnel, on drug testing for inmates involved in drug cases.

The drug testing will be done on inmates who availed themselves of the plea-bargaining program for drug dependents.

It has also taken steps to improve the availability of water for detention facilities.