LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

• Provides legal assistance and/or advice and in general acts as the corporate legal counsel of the Authority.
  

• Handles cases filed for or  against the Authority including attendance in court hearings and the preparation and submission of various pleadings in courts or other tribunals.
  

• Evaluates and monitors cases assigned to the field units concerned.
  

• Collaborates and coordinates with the Office of the Solicitor General and Office of the Government Corporate Counsel cases referred to them by PPA.
  

• Evaluates and recommends the filing or disposition of administrative disciplinary cases against PPA  officials and employees.
  

• Reviews and/or prepares contracts, memorandums of agreement permits/licenses and all other legal documents involving the Authority.
  

• Interprets pertinent laws, administrative orders, rules and regulations affecting the Authority and its employees.
  

• Reviews legality of rules, policies, regulations, pronouncement, procedures and guidelines affecting the ports and its port users.
  

• Undertakes   researches and studies on legal matters and keeps management abreast of the latest laws, rules and judicial pronouncements/developments affecting the Authority.
  

• Reviews  PDO/PMO decisions referred/appealed to it by the aggrieved parties, involving conflicts of interpretations, violations of port rules and regulations, administrative protests/cases and related disputes.
  

• Performs other related functions.

LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Regulatory and Documentation Division

• Prepares legal opinions, rulings, decisions, resolutions and other pertinent legal write-ups for the Board  and management.
  

• Undertakes legal researches on legal matters and prepares opinions/position papers and recommendations on various vital corporate issues within the framework of the PPA Charter.
  

• Reviews the propriety and legality of rules and regulations administrative procedures and guidelines affecting all ports within PPA jurisdiction and the port users in general.
  

• Reviews and/or prepares contracts, agreements and other vital legal documents to which PPA is a party.
  

• Hears, reviews and recommends decisions on appealed/protested cases/decisions of Port Management Offices and Responsibility Centers .
  

• Keeps updated records and files of PPA official rulings and pertinent Supreme Court decisions and disseminates the same (through the publication of PPA Legal Digest) for information and guidance of PMOs and the port users.
  

• Reviews decisions or actions appealable to Head Office by the PMO’s involving legal matters other than administrative/disciplinary cases.
  

• Evaluates/reviews contracts, licenses or permits within the jurisdictional authority of the Board and top management at Head Office.
  

• Keeps management abreast of all latest pertinent laws, rules and regulations and judicial developments and interprets provisions of contracts or agreements involving the Authority.
  

• Performs other related functions.

LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Litigation and Investigation Division

• Handles and disposes  civil, admiralty/maritime, and other cases.
  

• Collaborates and coordinates with OSG and OGCC in the handling of cases referred to them by PPA.
  

• Evaluates and recommends the filing and investigation of administrative cases against  PPA officials and employees and whenever necessary, assigns the formal investigation or prosecution of said cases to the Legal Services Division of the PDO concerned.
  

• Conducts researches and studies on various legal issues, rulings and policies affecting the Authority or its employees.
  

• Represents the PPA in court hearings, meetings, and conferences involving cases and/or legal matters affecting the Authority.
  

• Performs other related functions.