13/05/2026
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ Strengthening access to justice and advancing labor rights education were at the forefront of a courtesy visit conducted on May 12 by Atty. Spencer P. P***n, Director of the Atty. Rodolfo N. Pelaez (ARNP) Legal Clinic of Liceo de Cagayan University, to the office of Commissioner Abdul Azis U. Metmug of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) โ 8th Division.
The courtesy visit primarily aimed to formally introduce the establishment of the ARNP Legal Clinic and to present several proposed areas of collaboration between the legal clinic and the NLRC geared toward public service, legal education, and labor justice initiatives.
Among the proposed partnerships discussed were joint Legal Aid Missions and Help Desk Collaborations that would provide legal information activities for workers and unrepresented parties, particularly on NLRC procedures, labor rights, and available remedies.
The ARNP Legal Clinic also proposed the creation of a referral mechanism for qualified labor-related concerns appropriate for legal clinic assistance, including legal counseling, document assistance, and guided preparation of pleadings, subject to the clinicโs eligibility and conflict-checking policies.
Another significant proposal involved the establishment of an Externship or Internship Program with the NLRC, which would allow qualified law students to undertake clinical fieldwork aligned with the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) learning outcomes under Rule 138-A of the Rules of Court.
To further enhance labor law education and practical training, the parties also discussed possible co-hosted Learning Sessions and Capacity Building activities focusing on labor standards and labor relations, NLRC procedures, drafting of pleadings and position papers, mediation and conciliation processes, and ethical considerations in clinic practice.
Atty. P***n likewise pitched the establishment of a specialized Labor Law Sub-Clinic under the ARNP Legal Clinicโs CLEP framework. The proposed sub-clinic would focus on labor and employment concerns, including legal counseling and advice, assistance in conciliation and mediation proceedings, and drafting of pleadings and position papers for appropriate labor cases consistent with the Revised Law Student Practice Rule.
Other possible collaborative programs discussed included research support initiatives, development of public-facing labor education materials, and similar community-oriented projects beneficial to the labor sector.
Joining the courtesy visit was Atty. Ernesto B. Neri, Director of the Xavier University Center for Legal Assistance (XUCLA), who likewise presented a proposed partnership with the NLRC involving externship opportunities for Xavier law students under their Clinical Legal Education Program.
During the discussions, both legal clinic directors also floated the idea of a broader collaboration among the three institutions โ the NLRC, the ARNP Legal Clinic, and XUCLA โ to undertake larger programs with greater and more meaningful impact on the community, particularly the labor force.
Also present during the meeting was Commissioned Atty. Angelica Casiรฑo, a Liceo Law professor from the office of Commissioner Metmug, who shared valuable insights and recommendations regarding the proposed partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
Commissioner Metmug positively welcomed the proposals and expressed support for the initiatives. He assured both legal clinic directors that he would elevate the matter to the Chair of the NLRC 8th Division to further explore and institutionalize the proposed collaborations toward realization and implementation.
