Creating linkages

ONE OF the things I missed during the pandemic is attending and participating in face-to-face conventions. The last one I joined was the 17th National Convention of Lawyers held here in Iloilo City.

The pandemic has barred us from doing our daily activities and routine. Many of us worked from home and we took advantage of the technology from online meetings, webinars and teleconferencing.

In my line of work, hearings and conferences are done online. When I started working with the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC), I only met my counterparts and other HSAC personnel thru teleconferences. There were many times that we had to conduct webinars via Zoom Meetings and Microsoft Teams.

Nevertheless, as the daily average of COVID-19 cases lower, the Commission initiated and organized this year’s Meet and Greet Program. It was a two-day convention that aimed to promote camaraderie among HSAC Central Office and all Regional Adjudication Branches (RABs).

This is the first time that the RABs have convened. It was held on April 21-22, 2022 at the Central Office, HLURB Building in Quezon City. The theme was “Breakthrough to Excellence by Creating Connections and Building Bridges Together.”

It was in celebration of the Commission’s milestones, with the intention of building stronger connections between its personnel for the successful delivery of its mandate. We are mandated to adjudicate, among others, disputes relating to real estate development, homeowners’ associations, and appeals from decisions of local and regional planning and zoning bodies. It is important to connect linkages with various RABs to implement and execute the directives to us.

On the first day of the convention, we were privileged to meet the five Commissioners in flesh. I personally met our Executive Commissioner, Atty. Melzar P. Galicia. Together with him were the other four Commissioners: Atty. Fidel J. Exconde Jr., Atty. Sergio E. Yap II, Atty. John-Christopher T. Mahamud, and Atty. Michael P. Cloribel.

There were introductions and messages from the newly appointed Commissioners. There were also presentations of the 13 RABs through video presentations to showcase our respective offices. Our latest infomercial for 2022 was released and played on screen.

There were games and an ice breaker on the second day. It was fun socializing with the other RABS.

There was an orientation on the processes of the different divisions of the Central Office: Administrative Service, Finance Division, Planning and Management Service. The other part was the legal orientation from the Legal Service and the Office of the Executive Clerk especially on handling cases.

In the performance of our functions, the HSAC is guided by the constitutional provision that affords all persons the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative bodies. Thus, this program improved our dedication to public service and commitment to the Commission./PN