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:
- To protect and uphold the rights and interests of the City of Tarlac and represent the same in all legal matters;
- 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
- 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 |
| CLASSIFICATION | Legal Advice – In Office (Simple Transaction) Legend: Simple – 3 working days; Complex – 7 working days; Highly Technical – 20 working days |
| TYPE OF TRANSACTION | G2C (Government to Citizens) |
| WHO MAY AVAIL | Tarlac City Constituents |
| CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS | WHERE TO SECURE |
| Referral letterRelevant documentsValid Identification | Mayor’s Office |
| CLIENT STEPS | AGENCY ACTIONS | FEES TO BE PAID | PROCESSING TIME | PERSON RESPONSIBLE |
| 1.Client approach adminstaff and submit referral letter. | 1. Admin Staff – Interview client and receive referral letter | None | 10 minutes | Anne de Jesus |
| 2. Submit Referral letter to available lawyer for evaluation | None | 10 minutes | Anne De Jesus | |
| 3. Available lawyer conducts interview and gives free legal advice to client | None | 10 to 30 minutes | Atty JC Castro or Atty. Deb Santos or Atty. Renz Silvestre, Jr. | |
| End of Transaction |
2. LEGAL ADVICE – ONLINE
| OFFICE: | City Legal Office |
| CLASSIFICATION | Legal Advice – On Line (Simple Transaction) Legend: Simple – 3 working days; Complex – 7 working days; Highly Technical – 20 working days |
| TYPE OF TRANSACTION | G2C (Government to Citizens) |
| WHO MAY AVAIL | Tarlac City Constituents |
| CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS | WHERE TO SECURE |
| Email AddressFacebook AccountRelevant documentsValid Identification | N/A |
| CLIENT STEPS | AGENCY ACTIONS | FEES TO BE PAID | PROCESSING TIME | PERSON RESPONSIBLE |
| 1.Client emailsor chats with Legal Staff in charge of Online Legal Service | 1. Admin Staff – Interview client and summarize facts and issues | None | 15 minutes | Anne 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 |
| CLASSIFICATION | Preparation and Notarization of Private Legal Documents – Simple transaction Legend: Simple – 3 working days; Complex – 7 working days; Highly Technical – 20 working days |
| TYPE OF TRANSACTON | G2C (Government to Citizens) |
| WHO MAY AVAIL | Public |
| CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS | WHERE TO SECURE |
| Valid Identification Cards | N/A |
| CLIENT STEPS | AGENCY ACTIONS | FEES TO BE PAID | PROCESSING TIME | PERSON RESPONSIBLE |
| 1. Document to be prepared and/or notarized submitted to Office’s Administrative Staff | 1. Admin Staff – Receive document to be prepared and/or notarized | None | 5 minutes | Cynthia Cawigan and other Legal staff |
| 2. Prepare private document | None | 10 minutes | Cynthia Cawigan and other Legal Staff | |
| 3. Evaluate if available for free notarization | None | 10 minutes | Cynthia Cawigan and other Legal Staff | |
| 4. If qualified for free notarization, notarize document. | None | 5 minutes | Available Notary Public | |
| 5. If not qualified for free notarization, hand over the prepared legal document to the client for notarization to nearest notary public | None | 5 minutes | Nearest Notary Public | |
| 2. Requester receiveprepared legal document and/or notarized document | 6. 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 |
| CLASSIFICATION | PREPARATION 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 TRANSACTION | G2G (Government to Government) |
| WHO MAY AVAIL | City Government Officials and Employees |
| CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS | WHERE TO SECURE |
| Request Letter/ MemorandumRelevant Documents | N/A |
| CLIENT STEPS | AGENCY ACTIONS | FEES TO BE PAID | PROCESSIN G TIME | PERSON RESPONSIBLE |
| Request letter to be submittedto Office’s Administrative Staff | Admin Staff –Receive document and stamp date of receipt | None | 5 minutes | Anne Gabriel |
| 2. Submit it to Department Head for evaluation | None | 5 minutes | Anne 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 Department | None | 2 to15 days Depending on complexity | Atty. Deborah Santos, Atty. Renz Silvestre, Jr., | |
| Head for review | Dennis Lomboy, or April Gerfi Canlas | |||
| 5. Department Head review document, finalize and sign | None | 1 to 5 days depending on complexity. | Atty JC Castro | |
| 2. Requester receive document | 6. Admin Staff endorse or send document to requester. | None | 10 minutes | Anne Gabriel |
2.NOTARIZATION OF OFFICIAL CITY GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
| OFFICE: | City Legal Office |
| CLASSIFICATION | Notarization of Official City Government Documents – Simple Transaction Legend: Simple – 3 working days; Complex – 7 working days; HighlyTechnical – 20 working days |
| TYPE OF TRANSACTIO N | G2G (Government to Government) |
| WHO MAY AVAIL | City Government Officials and Employees |
| CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS | WHERE TO SECURE |
| Document to be notarizedValid Identification Cards | N/A |
| CLIENT STEPS | AGENCY ACTIONS | FEES TO BE PAID | PROCESSING TIME | PERSON RESPONSIBLE |
| 1. Request letter to be submitted to Office’s Administrative Staff | 1. Admin Staff – Receive document to be notarized | None | 5 minutes | Cynthia Cawigan and other Legal staff |
| 2. Submit to Notary Public for evaluation | None | 10 minutes | Cynthia Cawigan and other Legal Staff | |
| 3. Notary Public to require presentation of affiants and valid identification card | None | 10 minutes | Available Notary Public | |
| 2. Requester receivedocument | 4.Notarize document | None | 5 minutes | Available Notary Public |
| 5. Admin Staff release notarized document to requester. | None | 5 minutes | Cynthia Cawigan and other Legal Staff |