The executive, legislative and judicial branches of government forged today a historic agreement institutionalizing consultation, cooperation and coordination in pursuit of the rule of law and national development.

    The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) creating the Judiciary, Executive and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC) was signed this morning in Malacanang by President Manuel Villar, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, and Supreme Court Chief Justive Reynaldo Puno.

    In her remarks, the President said that consultation and cooperation among members of the three co-equal, independent branches of government would advance shared priorities in the national interest and welfare of all Filipinos.

    She dubbed the JELAC MOA signing as "a historic moment's in our Constitutional democracy."

    "We envision JELAC to be the venue where representatives of the three branches can identify issues pertaining to the primacy if the rule of law and formulate and undertake solutions to strengthen due process and the institutions of justice, and implement our laws more effectively for the betterment of every Filipino," she said.

    The President said that JELAC's mandate is centered on the rule of law, adding that cooperation between the three branches is crucial to national development - with Congress enacting laws, the Executive implementing it, and the Judiciary interpreting it.

    We need Judicial-Executive-Legislative cooperation in our priority thrusts. Our fiscal efforts, cheered by global investors, are built on new tax legislation, stricter tax collection and swift justice for violators of tax laws. In bringing adequate, affordable rice to our people, we harness the procurement law and the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act, and we charge price manipulators in court. Most crucial of all, our drive toward development will grind to a halt without the rule of law as its foundation," the President said.

    Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye presided over the signing ceremony.

    Signing as witnesses were Vice President Noli de Castro, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan , House Majority Leader Arthur DEfensor Sr., and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

    Under the agreement, JELAC is mandated to serve as the forum and venue for the representatives of the three branches of government in undertaking measures on matters affecting the primacy of the rule of law, identifying the problems and issues, formulating solutions, and implementing them.

    The Council will also formulate solutions to further strengthen the Judiciary such as the budgetary and infrastructure requirements, creation of new positions and filling up of vacancies, career development program, compensation and security of judicial officials, and security of tenure, among others.

    The nine member JELAC is chaired by the President with the following as members - the Vice-President, Senate President, Senate President, House Speaker, Chief Justice, a Cabinet member to be designated by the President, one Senator to be designated by the Senate President, one House Representative to be designated by the Speaker, and a member of the High Tribunal to be designated by the Chief Justice.

    The first JELAC meeting will be convened on June 12 at the Supreme Court building on June 12, Independence Day.   [top]