Community-based Legal Resource Institution-Building

As co-implementor of the PESANTEch project in the Mindanao areas, BALAOD-Mindanaw will assist in the formation and capability-building of legal resource institutions, called, Saligan sa mga Barangay at the barangay level. PESANTEch, which is on its 10th year of implementation, currently provides assistance to its partners in the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Sur, South Cotabato, and Surigao del Sur, and the cities of Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

As a subsidiary of BMFI, BALAOD-Mindanaw is committed to provide legal assistance in the implementation of BMFI’s core program of Sustainable Integrated Area Development (SIAD) in Claveria and Gingoog City, both in Misamis Oriental.

Capability-Building on Local Legislation and Dispute Resolution

Crucial to the strategy of paralegalism in the context of local governance is to ensure that local legislation is geared towards advancing the justice issues of marginalized sectors and communities and that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are promoted.

BALAOD-Mindanaw’s contribution to this end will be to provide capability-building interventions in the areas of local legistlation and dispute settlement especially at the barangay level. In the process, BALAOD-Mindanaw hopes to facilitate the recognition of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the institutionalization of such mechanisms in the mainstream legal process.

Direct Legal Services and other Consultancies

This program aims to provide legal assistance to individual and organized groups especially the partners involved in resource tenure, local governance and other justice issues of the marginalized sectors in Mindanao.

Advocacy for Developmental Legal Assistance and Reform in the Administration of Justice

BALAOD-Mindanaw aims to help establish a network of Mindanao lawyers to provide a venue for alternative legal support to communities and organizations being assisted by BALAOD. BALAOD-Mindanaw is now a member of the Alternative Lawyers Group, Inc., a national network of lawyers involved in development work.

As a concrete contribution to the formation of alternative lawyers, BALAOD-Mindanaw shall continue and expand its tie-up with law schools in implementing a law student internship program.

Policy Research, Policy Advocacy and Publication

BALAOD shall continue to initiate and actively participate in critical activities on policy reform to facilitate the creation of a policy environment favorable to the advancement of the rights of the marginalized sectors.

BALAOD shall also produce and publish various educational materials in popular form and language.