DR. JOVITO R.

SALONGA CENTER FOR LAW AND DEVELOPMENT

The Salonga Center for Law and Development is an adjunct of the Silliman
University College of Law. It was launched through the beneficence of
nationalist, statesman, and legal luminary Dr. Jovito R. Salonga himself on
August 26, 2006.
Guided by the teachings of our Lord and Savior, the Salonga Center, same as
that with the College, approaches law with a conscience: The kind that brings
good news to the poor, liberates the captives, gives hope to the blind, and
sets at liberty those who are oppressed. To fulfill these objectives, the
Salonga Center utilizes the pillars of Legal Advocacy, Research, and Legal
Education and Training.
Heres a glimpse of what we do at the Salonga Center:
LEGAL ADVOCACY
The law is a powerful tool to bring about change. The Salonga Center
believes in engaging the community and policy makersnational and local
on a healthy discourse to map out and effectuate sustainable policies. One of
the three areas of the Salonga Center is the Environmental Law Desk that
capitalizes on the Universitys and the Colleges strength in environmental
advocacy that lead to the creation of the Legal Environmental Advocacy
Program (LEAP).
PAPER ON GUIMARAS OIL SPILL. The Salonga Center prepared a paper on the
legal implications of the Guimaras oil spill. The paper was submitted to Dr.
Angel Alcala, Director for Research of Silliman University, who then
presented the paper to PETRON.
DAI-ECOGOVERNANCE PROJECT. On October 23, 2006, the Development
Alternatives, Inc.-Ecogovenance project team met the Salonga Center
interdisciplinary team to discuss the Independent Quantity Contract (IQC)
that formalized the engagement of the Salonga Center as a preferred
subcontractor of the project.
COVENANT ON FREE ELECTIONS. In 2013, the Salonga Center spearheaded
the Inter-Agency Covenant on the Conduct of Free, Credible, Honest, Orderly
and Peaceful Elections in Negros Oriental signed at the Justice Venancio D.
Aldecoa Jr. Moot Court.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION. In 2011, the
Salonga Center initiated the initial stride on solving the sanitary landfill

problems of Dumaguete City and its neighboring towns by engaging stake

holders on a roundtable discussion.

RESEARCH
Research is integral to critically analyze and critique Philippine and
international law. Opinions and analyses are incorporated in publications
which will be made available to government offices, academic institutions,
and non-governmental organizations.
THE SILLIMAN LAW JOURNAL. The Salonga Center contributes to the Colleges
undertaking by mapping out issues and inquiries for researches done by
students, members of faculty, and legal experts. As Atty. Marcelino Maxino,
adviser, puts it: The Silliman Law Journal is published to serve the needs of
the legal community for serious, scholarly examination of issues that
challenge the study of law. Some of these issues are current, but some are
timeless.
THE PURPLE MAP. Launched in 2010, the Purple Map is the official law
magazine of the Salonga Center. It publishes students and faculties
commentaries on more pressing legal issues of the day.
The publication is made possible through the generosity of Dr. Rolando Del
Carmen.
RESEARCH AREAS OF INTERESTS:
1.) The creation of special courts to handle violations of traffic rules,
ordinances and other small claims and compare this concept with the
concept of Peoples Courts in the United States.
2.) A study to Shepardize Philippine law and jurisprudence considering
the magnitude of the undertaking, this remains a dream project. The
Shepard system is a method for tracking the discussion of principles of
law in court opinions.
LEGAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
For students like myself, this is one of the most exciting component because
this is where really go out there.
As proponent of Transformative Law, the Salonga Center aims to bring the
law beyond the courts and the classroom and to the barrios, barangays, local
government units, policy makers, and legislators. The Salonga Center utilizes

various forms and media to impart legal informationlectures, seminars,

radio, newspaper, television, and the Internet.
TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCERS. Just very recently, the Salonga Center
conducted training seminars for members of the armed forces on
International Humanitarian Law and for the members of the police on arrest
and search and seizure.
LAW LECTURES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. Last semester, students
enrolled in the Street Law course handled by Atty. Aguilan went around the
high schools of Dumaguete to conduct lectures on Anti-Bullying Law, basic
Family Law, and plagiarism among others.
BATA, BATA, BATAS BAY ALAM MO NA? is an interactive lecture designed to
engage elementary students to make them aware of their rights.
NEWSPAPER, RADIO, and INTERNET INFORMATION CAMPAIGN. Through our
media partners, the Salonga Center publishes easy-to-understand articles on
more relevant laws.
ADMINISTRATION
The Salonga Center is administratively under a body composed of the Dean
and Faculty of Law, with the Dean acting as the convenor. The Director of the
Salonga Center is an ex-officio member of said body. This body is directly
under the Office of the President of the university. Currently, it is headed by
Dean Mikhail Lee Maxino assisted by Atty. Karla Aguilan. Dean Maxino also
heads the Environmental Law Desk which is one of the areas of the Salonga
Center alongside the Social Justice and Human Rights Desk and the Labor
Law Desk coordinated by law faculty members.
And perhaps, the greatest strength of the Salonga Center lies on the spirit of
service among Salonga volunteers, many of whom if not all, are students of
the Silliman University College of Law.
We are very excited with what this partnership will bring. God bless us all.