EU turns over P3-M worth of laptops to SC

The EU Delegation in Manila said a total of PHP10 million has so far been mobilized through the GOJUST program to support justice sector agencies in their response to Covid-19. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA — The European Union (EU) on Friday donated 70 laptops worth PHP3 million to the Supreme Court (SC) to support the latter’s digital court hearings amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“The provision of the laptops aims at helping the court system to deliver justice and reduce the backlogs created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

I hope that the videoconferencing for court proceedings could continue beyond the crisis to contribute to a more effective justice system,” Thomas Wiersing, Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, said during the virtual turnover.

The donation, made through EU’s Governance in Justice (GOJUST) program, follows the recent turnover of 120 multi-media tablets and different kinds of personal protective equipment to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The EU Delegation in Manila said a total of PHP10 million has so far been mobilized through the GOJUST program to support justice sector agencies in their response to Covid-19.

As early as August 2019, the program has supported the Supreme Court in videoconferencing hearings in the Davao City justice zone.

“The lessons from the successful pilot in Davao allowed the Supreme Court to respond quickly to the Covid-19 pandemic,” it said.