Flat Preloader Icon CITY GOVERNMENT OF TARLAC

CITY LEGAL OFFICE

I.      Mandate:

The City Legal Office is the legal arm of the City Government of Tarlac. It serves as the Chief Legal Adviser of the Local Chief Executive, the Sangguniang Panlungsod and all other departments and offices of the City Government in legal matters involving the performance of their respective duties, functions and responsibilities in the delivery of public service.

The City Legal Officer, as the Chief Legal Counsel, holds stewardship of the City Legal Office and pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 shall: (1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and provide legal assistance and support to the City Mayor, in carrying out the delivery of basic services and provisions of adequate facilities as provided for under Section 17 of the same Code; 2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the City Mayor implement the same, particularly those which have to do with programs and projects related to legal services which the Mayor is empowered to implement and which the Sangguniang Panlungsod is empowered to provide under the Code; and (3) Be in the frontline of protecting human rights and prosecuting any violations thereof, particularly those which occur during and in the aftermath of man-made or natural disasters or calamities.

II.    Vision:

It is envisioned that the City Legal Office stands as an advocate of justice, a pillar of truth and a pervasive guide for the City of Tarlac in upholding the rule of law in all aspects of government service.

III.   Mission:

The City Legal Office is committed in rendering itself as an instrument in providing excellent service to the public by ensuring utmost compliance with the mandates of the law and thus, seeks:

  1. To protect and uphold the rights and interests of the City of Tarlac and represent the same in all legal matters;
  2. To recommend measures to the Local Chief Executive and the Sangguniang Panlungsod that will ensure that public service delivery through government programs and projects are aligned with the rule of law; and
  3. To perform all other functions that may be prescribed by law and are necessary and desirable in the running of the government and in the enforcement of the rules of society.

IV.  Service pledge:

The City Legal Office pledges to be the embodiment of an exemplary standard of public service in the implementation of the legality principle in government administration.

The officers and personnel of the City Legal Office commits to exhibit utmost professionalism in the exercise of their functions through reliability, consistency and honesty.

EXTERNAL SERVICES

1.               LEGAL ADVICE – IN OFFICE

OFFICE:City Legal Office
CLASSIFICATIONLegal Advice – In Office (Simple Transaction)   Legend: Simple – 3 working days; Complex – 7 working days; Highly Technical – 20 working days
TYPE OF TRANSACTIONG2C (Government to Citizens)
WHO MAY AVAILTarlac City Constituents
CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTSWHERE TO SECURE
Referral letterRelevant documentsValid IdentificationMayor’s Office
CLIENT STEPSAGENCY ACTIONSFEES TO BE PAIDPROCESSING TIMEPERSON RESPONSIBLE
1.Client approach adminstaff and submit referral letter.1. Admin Staff – Interview client and receive referral letterNone10 minutesAnne de Jesus
 2. Submit Referral letter to available lawyer for evaluationNone10 minutesAnne De Jesus
 3. Available lawyer conducts interview and gives free legal advice to clientNone    10 to 30 minutesAtty JC Castro or Atty. Deb Santos or Atty. Renz Silvestre, Jr.
End of Transaction

2. LEGAL ADVICE – ONLINE

OFFICE:City Legal Office
CLASSIFICATIONLegal Advice – On Line (Simple Transaction) Legend: Simple – 3 working days; Complex – 7 working days; Highly Technical – 20 working days
TYPE OF TRANSACTIONG2C (Government to Citizens)
WHO MAY AVAILTarlac City Constituents
CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTSWHERE TO SECURE
Email AddressFacebook AccountRelevant documentsValid IdentificationN/A
CLIENT STEPSAGENCY ACTIONSFEES TO BE PAIDPROCESSING TIMEPERSON RESPONSIBLE
1.Client emailsor chats with Legal Staff in charge of Online Legal Service1. Admin Staff – Interview client and summarize facts and issuesNone15 minutesAnne de Jesus
 2. Refer to available lawyer/paraleg al for evaluation  None  10 minutes  Anne De Jesus or Dennis Lomboy or Atty Castro or Atty Santos or Atty. Renz Silvestre, Jr.
   3. Available lawyer/parale gal conducts interview and gives free legal advice to client on line thru chat or thru email.    None    10 to 30 minutes  Atty JC Castro or Atty. Deb Santos or Atty. Renz Silvestre, Jr. or Anne de Jesus or Dennis Lomboy

3. PREPARATION OF PRIVATE LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND NOTARIZATION OF PRIVATE LEGAL DOCUMENTS

OFFICE:City Legal Office
CLASSIFICATIONPreparation and Notarization of Private Legal Documents – Simple transaction Legend: Simple – 3 working days; Complex – 7 working days; Highly Technical – 20 working days
TYPE OF TRANSACTONG2C (Government to Citizens)
WHO MAY AVAILPublic
CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTSWHERE TO SECURE
Valid Identification CardsN/A
CLIENT STEPSAGENCY ACTIONSFEES TO BE PAIDPROCESSING TIMEPERSON RESPONSIBLE
1. Document to be prepared and/or notarized submitted to Office’s Administrative Staff1. Admin Staff – Receive document to be prepared and/or notarizedNone5 minutesCynthia Cawigan and other Legal staff
 2. Prepare private documentNone10 minutesCynthia Cawigan and other Legal Staff
 3.         Evaluate                      if available            for free notarizationNone10 minutesCynthia Cawigan and other Legal Staff
 4. If qualified for free notarization, notarize document.None5 minutesAvailable Notary Public
 5. If not qualified for free notarization, hand over the prepared legal document to the client for notarization to nearest notary publicNone5 minutesNearest Notary Public
2. Requester receiveprepared legal document and/or notarized document6. Admin Staff release notarized document to requester.      None      5 minutes  Cynthia Cawigan and other Legal Staff

INTERNAL SERVICES

1.PREPARATION OF OFFICIAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS, LEGAL OPINION AND DRAFTING OF ORDINANCES

OFFICE:City Legal Office
CLASSIFICATIONPREPARATION OF OFFICIAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS – Complex PREPARATION OF LEGAL OPINION – ComplexDRAFTING OF ORDINANCES – Highly Technical   Legend: Simple – 3 working days; Complex – 7 working days; Highly Technical – 20 working days
TYPE OF TRANSACTIONG2G (Government to Government)
WHO MAY AVAILCity Government Officials and Employees
CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTSWHERE TO SECURE
Request Letter/ MemorandumRelevant DocumentsN/A
CLIENT STEPSAGENCY ACTIONSFEES TO BE PAIDPROCESSIN G TIMEPERSON RESPONSIBLE
Request letter to be submittedto Office’s Administrative StaffAdmin Staff –Receive document and stamp date of receiptNone5 minutesAnne Gabriel
 2. Submit it to Department Head for evaluationNone5 minutesAnne Gabriel
 3. Department Head evaluates and assign task to Staff (Lawyers or Paralegals or Admin Staff)  None  10 to 20 minutes  Atty. JC Castro
 4. Staff submit draft document to DepartmentNone2 to15   days Depending on complexityAtty. Deborah Santos, Atty. Renz Silvestre, Jr.,
 Head for review  Dennis Lomboy, or April Gerfi Canlas
 5. Department Head review document, finalize and signNone1 to 5 days depending on complexity.Atty JC Castro
2. Requester receive document6. Admin Staff endorse or send document to requester.None10 minutesAnne Gabriel

2.NOTARIZATION OF OFFICIAL CITY GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

OFFICE:City Legal Office
CLASSIFICATIONNotarization of Official City Government Documents – Simple Transaction   Legend: Simple – 3 working days; Complex – 7 working days; HighlyTechnical – 20 working days
TYPE OF TRANSACTIO NG2G (Government to Government)
WHO MAY AVAILCity Government Officials and Employees
CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTSWHERE TO SECURE
Document to be notarizedValid Identification CardsN/A
CLIENT STEPSAGENCY ACTIONSFEES TO BE PAIDPROCESSING TIMEPERSON RESPONSIBLE
1. Request letter to be submitted to Office’s Administrative Staff1. Admin Staff – Receive document to be notarizedNone5 minutesCynthia Cawigan and other Legal staff
 2. Submit to Notary Public for evaluationNone10 minutesCynthia Cawigan and other Legal Staff
 3. Notary Public to require presentation of affiants and valid identification cardNone10 minutesAvailable Notary Public
2. Requester receivedocument4.Notarize documentNone5 minutesAvailable Notary Public
 5. Admin Staff release notarized document to requester.None5 minutesCynthia Cawigan and other Legal Staff