Local telco Globe, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Rizal-RSM Chapter, and the Supreme Court (SC) have partnered to provide free legal consultations, including guidance on online safety and digital rights, to underserved communities in Metro Manila.
The initiative, called “Konek Kay Attorney: Libreng Legal Help Desk mula sa Globe at IBP Rizal-RSM,” was held on Oct. 5 at The Globe Tower in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
Volunteer lawyers assisted individuals from Taguig, Mandaluyong, and Pasig with legal concerns, while discussions covered online safety and people’s rights in digital spaces.
The program brings legal assistance closer to communities as more activities, transactions, and interactions take place online.
SC associate justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, chairperson of the Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) Interim Board, said the initiative reflects the need to make legal remedies more accessible to people who may not know their rights or cannot afford legal services.
“Access to justice is realized only when it is felt, when it reaches people where they are,” Caguioa said.
ULAS is the SC’s initiative to expand access to legal assistance for indigent Filipinos. Under its rules, covered lawyers must provide at least 60 hours of free legal aid every three years.
Globe and the IBP Rizal-RSM Chapter formally signed an agreement during the event to establish their collaboration in delivering legal aid to underserved communities.
The inclusion of online safety discussions gives the initiative a digital rights component, helping participants better understand legal concerns that may arise from their use of online platforms and services.
