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Asian
Development Bank - RETA: Project DIAL
The ADB-Regional Technical Assistance (RETA) intends to assists member
countries in the process of law reform by facilitating continuing access
by policymakers and those involved in the law reform process to relevant
legal precedents and developments in priority areas of development law.
The project primarily involves the establishment of the DIAL (Development
of the Internet for Asian Law) Internet web page as the medium of access
to said relevant legal materials. The
RETA contemplates in each participating member countries: (1) internet
access points to the DIAL web site or research stations, through computers
to be provided by ADB; and, (2) provision of a sequenced training program,
both on-line and actual for key law reform personnel. However, it requires
counterpart commitment from participating member countries consisting of
ensuring participation of personnel concerned in the training program,
providing adequate facilities and logistical support for carrying out the
training sessions. No direct counterpart financial support is required
from member countries under the RETA.
The
RETA has commenced in July 1999 and expected to be completed in December
2001. At present, CD Technologies Asia, Inc. which is the Regional Co-ordinator
for the project has conducted informal sessions with some members of the
Congress and selected law schools on the nature of the project. The
initial training activities in the Philippines are scheduled to be held on
July/August 2000, conditioned on the acceptance of the Philippine
Government to commit the aforementioned counterpart support.
Considering
the importance of the Project in the process of law reform especially in
developing countries like the Philippines and to honor our country’s
commitment in assisting ADB in the implementation of the Project, NEDA
thru the LEDAC Secretariat assumed the position as the lead government
agency responsible in coordinating the implementation of the Project. The
LEDAC Secretariat will be the focal agency who will provide the necessary
counterpart arrangements, i.e., identification of training institutions in the
Philippines that Project DIAL may tie up with or avail the services of as
well as provision of minimal budget for some incidental expenses on our
part from LEDAC budget and MS budget, to ensure the successful
implementation of the Project in the Philippines. The
Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Secretariat
shall be the lead Government agency responsible for coordinating the
implementation of the Project. In this regard, the Government and the
LEDAC Secretariat in particular, will assist ADB in implementing the
project in the following ways: (1)
Ensuring cooperation and support of all branches, instrumentalities
and agencies of the Government involved in legislative drafting and
law/judicial reform; (2)
Ensuring participation in the DIAL training program of appropriate
Government lawyers, legislative draftspersons, law/judicial reform
personnel and other relevant Government officers; (3)
Coordinating the provision of facilities for the activities of the
DIAL training program, including the identification of appropriate
training/conference venues owned and operated by the Government, and
access to and use of relevant communications and other equipment; (4)
Facilitating the use of DIAL resources and facilities in the day to
day procedures for legislative drafting and/or law/judicial reform
initiatives in the Government; (5)
Promoting the use of DIAL resources and facilities through
appropriate publicity, particularly in local professional (e.g.,
bar) associations, NGOs and other organizations concerned on law/ judicial
reform issues; and, (6)
Cooperating with the DIAL Regional Co-ordinator, CD Technologies
Asia, and the Local Training Associates for the Philippines, in
establishment and implementation of the DIAL training program.
Mr. EUGENIO R.B. INOCENTES III, Director, Management Staff and concurrent Executive Director of the LEDAC Secretariat has been designated as the Government's DIAL Contact Officer who will have the responsibility for ensuring that the aforementioned activities are provided by the Government for RETA implementation in adequate and timely manner. Last 07 September 2000, about 50 staff members from the Senate attended a half-day training session on how to use the DIAL web site conducted by the CD Asia Technologies Inc. LEDAC provided the secretariat and logistics support to the training program. |
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