It is no wonder then that the IBP endeavors to explore new ways by which it can provide services to its members more efficiently and ultimately serve public interest through a united organization offering accessible legal services to the public. Advances in technology and communication make it imperative that the legal profession maximize the benefits accorded by the easy and efficient relay of information, especially in the hustle-and-bustle world of lawyering.

In response to this need for a fast and efficient communication, the IBP recently launched the IBP Public Service Portal (PSP) Project. The goals of this project are twofold: information dissemination and public service. The IBP-PSP is a laudable project of the IBP which is meant to make it more responsive to the needs of its members, as well as the  needs of a great number of Filipinos who otherwise, would have no access to obtaining free-legal services.

Through mobile technology, practitioners will receive important announcements and updates through SMS (short message service) be it the latest Supreme Court decisions, newly-passed laws or reminders about important IBP deadlines. The service will serve as a capacity-building medium to keep IBP members abreast of developments in the field of law accessible any time and in keeping with the convenience of a lawyer’s active lifestyle.

In view of the public service aspect, the PSP project will also use an integrated SMS gateway which will enable legal aid lawyers and volunteers to provide legal advice to the public via messaging or scheduled live chats and provide relevant information via SMS to all members or a specific subgroups, such as an IBP chapter.

A brainchild of the Chairman of the Board of Governors and Concurrently IBP National President Jose Vicente Salazar, he pointed out that “as a public service, IBP lawyers and volunteers may provide free legal assistance to the public by contributed content for Legal Topics for using, the faculty for portal and chapter microsites. It is high time that the Filipinos are aware that IBP is there to help and that just practices can be attained.  We want to take our share to help.”

However, to maximize these services, the IBP needs relevant information from its members. That way, data would be better managed and may be used for future projects under this flagship program. A proactive and efficient use of technology will prove to be useful tools for information dissemination, interaction with individual members and chapters, and broaden the base for public service in the interest of the legal profession.

To this end, the IBP has set-up IBP Database Enhancement people (IBP-DEP) booths all over the country to gather the needed and necessary information from the members. For this project to succeed, the full support and cooperation of all IBP members, all members are requested to fill up all the information contained in forms sent to them. Personal contact information may also be sent by e-mail to tech@ibp.org.ph or ibpnational@yahoo.com or via SMS is the following 0928 2445566 (Smart),0915 3835577 (Globe) and 0922 7155255 (Sun Cellular). IBP members can expect to get regular updates on developments in the legal field by signing up in the IBP-DEP.