From community convergence to becoming true stewards of justice, the Davao City Justice Zone, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education-XI (CHED XI), spearheaded the second Higher Education Institution (HEIs) Summit on September 24–25, equipping HEIs with practical tools to create safe, healthy, inclusive, and resilient learning communities.
Since March 2019, the Davao City Justice Zone led the efforts on coordinated justice sector actions to make justice accessible. Led by Executive Judges, and composed of national agencies based in the city, offices of the City Government of Davao, academic institutions providing legal aid, and civil society organizations, the Davao City Justice Zone initiated locally-led reforms, became sources of information for policymakers, and informed the public on several good practices.
It also focused on institutionalizing the justice zone, strengthening the barangay justice system, court decongestion, and jail decongestion. At its core is the rehabilitation and reintegration of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and persons restored to liberty (PRLs).
“The banner of the Davao City Justice Zone is t on the rehabilitation and reintegration of our PDLs and PRL,” Judge Rowena M. Apao-Adlawan, Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court and Convenor of the Davao City Justice Zone, said.
In line with this thrust is the involvement of HEIs in holistic reintegration programs for the PDLs and PRLs, and empowering them to be true stewards of justice.
“The goal of the Davao City Justice Zone, together with CHED, is to involve our HEIs in their roles in the society, perhaps part of their corporate social responsibility on the social reintegration of our PDLs or PRLs,” Judge Apao-Adlawan said.
“Over the course of this summit, we will engage in critical conversations, share evidence-based best practices, and work directly with key government partners … to establish seamless emergency reporting, substance use prevention, and community referral networks,” she added.
CHED will also equip the participants with practical tools such as monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and self-assessment framework that will help HEIs assess readiness, bridge compliance gaps, and progressively advance towards becoming regional learning hubs.
During the two-day summit, panel discussions on the philosophy of stewardship justice and the role of HEIs in safeguarding student welfare, relevant laws and jurisprudence, creating safe spaces in campuses, building responsive campus systems, and student leadership as stewardship were conducted.
Participating HEIs also assessed existing policies, systems, strengths and gaps based on CHED Memorandum Order No. 5, series of 2026.
The St. Mary’s College of Tagum, Lyceum of the Philippines University, and the University of the Immaculate Concepcion also presented their best practices on student welfare, mental health, Safe Spaces, legal aid, wellness and community engagement.
The City Government of Davao, along with the Davao City Justice Zone, urged the HEIs in the city to collaborate with the city government and other agencies to create programs that will support holistic reintegration of PDLs in the community and reduce the cases of reoffenses. CIO2nd Justice Zone stakeholders summit held
From community convergence to becoming true stewards of justice, the Davao City Justice Zone, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education-XI (CHED XI), spearheaded the second Higher Education Institution (HEIs) Summit on September 24–25, equipping HEIs with practical tools to create safe, healthy, inclusive, and resilient learning communities.
Since March 2019, the Davao City Justice Zone led the efforts on coordinated justice sector actions to make justice accessible. Led by Executive Judges, and composed of national agencies based in the city, offices of the City Government of Davao, academic institutions providing legal aid, and civil society organizations, the Davao City Justice Zone initiated locally-led reforms, became sources of information for policymakers, and informed the public on several good practices.
It also focused on institutionalizing the justice zone, strengthening the barangay justice system, court decongestion, and jail decongestion. At its core is the rehabilitation and reintegration of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and persons restored to liberty (PRLs).
“The banner of the Davao City Justice Zone is t on the rehabilitation and reintegration of our PDLs and PRL,” Judge Rowena M. Apao-Adlawan, Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court and Convenor of the Davao City Justice Zone, said.
In line with this thrust is the involvement of HEIs in holistic reintegration programs for the PDLs and PRLs, and empowering them to be true stewards of justice.
“The goal of the Davao City Justice Zone, together with CHED, is to involve our HEIs in their roles in the society, perhaps part of their corporate social responsibility on the social reintegration of our PDLs or PRLs,” Judge Apao-Adlawan said.
“Over the course of this summit, we will engage in critical conversations, share evidence-based best practices, and work directly with key government partners … to establish seamless emergency reporting, substance use prevention, and community referral networks,” she added.
CHED will also equip the participants with practical tools such as monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and self-assessment framework that will help HEIs assess readiness, bridge compliance gaps, and progressively advance towards becoming regional learning hubs.
During the two-day summit, panel discussions on the philosophy of stewardship justice and the role of HEIs in safeguarding student welfare, relevant laws and jurisprudence, creating safe spaces in campuses, building responsive campus systems, and student leadership as stewardship were conducted.
Participating HEIs also assessed existing policies, systems, strengths and gaps based on CHED Memorandum Order No. 5, series of 2026.
The St. Mary’s College of Tagum, Lyceum of the Philippines University, and the University of the Immaculate Concepcion also presented their best practices on student welfare, mental health, Safe Spaces, legal aid, wellness and community engagement.
The City Government of Davao, along with the Davao City Justice Zone, urged the HEIs in the city to collaborate with the city government and other agencies to create programs that will support holistic reintegration of PDLs in the community and reduce the cases of reoffenses. CIO
Written by: J. Villaluz
Edited by: A. Nawal