UNDER the conscientious stewardship of its chief, Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has conducted a management review primarily aimed at improving the delivery of free legal services, ensuring the proper use of public funds, and strengthening the capability of its lawyers to better serve indigent Filipinos.
With Deputy Chief Ana Lisa Soriano and PAO-National Capital Region Director Revelyn Ramos-Dacpano, the chief public attorney also led the regional public attorneys’ meeting held at the same venue late last week.
The initiative turned out to be part of the efforts to maintain PAO’s ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certification and ensure that its offices nationwide continue to operate effectively.
“The PAO is not conducting this review to spend funds unnecessarily but to maintain its certification and ensure that every district, sub-district, satellite, regional, and central office operates effectively for the poor Filipinos,” according to the chief public attorney.
The management review evaluates whether existing plans and processes remain effective or need to be revised.
It also identifies operational issues that require immediate solutions, including the capacity of PAO lawyers to perform their duties.
Rueda-Acosta said the agency also assessed the knowledge and courtroom skills of its lawyers, including their ability to present witnesses, conduct cross-examinations, and prepare judicial pleadings accurately.
A recipient of multiple awards and recognitions – nearly 60 this year alone – for her anti-corruption stance and consistent and extensive free legal services especially to the underprivileged and indigents, she rejected any claims that PAO wastes government funds, saying the agency’s budget is used solely to improve services for its clients.
“PAO has never wasted public funds. Our budget is for the Filipino people, particularly the poor.”
“It’s spent on strengthening the capabilities of our lawyers and staff so we can provide effective legal counseling, efficient court representation, legal advice, and even psychological guidance to clients burdened by legal problems,” she added.
The top PAO official emphasized that the consistent high public trust the agency and its entire personnel has been enjoying motivates them to continue improving the quality of its services specifically for the less-privileged Filipinos.
