The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the creation of 178 new public attorney (PA) positions to address the shortage relative to the existing courts in the country.
In a statement, the DBM said 56 PA II and 122 PA I positions have been created in the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) under the Department of Justice (DOJ), which will require P336 million annually.
“These additional Public Attorney positions will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the PAO in delivering legal services to the public, ensuring that every Filipino, regardless of their economic status, has access to justice and representation they deserve,” budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
“We are not only improving our legal system but also touching the lives of countless individuals who rely on these services for hope and fairness,” she added.
Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9406 mandates the PAO to render free legal representation, assistance and counseling to indigent individuals in criminal, civil, labor, administrative and other quasi-judicial cases.
In the exigency of the service, the PAO may be called upon by proper government authorities to render such service to other persons, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.
The provision of these additional lawyer positions will allow PAO to better manage the increasing demands for legal representation and services in the country.
Based on the data from the PAO, the agency handled 787,124 cases and assisted 849,914 clients in 2021. In 2022, these numbers rose to 850,753 cases and 900,079 clients.
Among others, public attorneys represent indigent litigants in various legal cases, conduct research, prepare legal documents, appear in trials and hearings, and engage in legal outreach activities such as inquests, jail visitations and Barangay Legal Outreach initiatives.
