Manila, May 21 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday opened the country's 20th justice zone in San Fernando, La Union.

A project of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), justice zones are localized hubs where police, prosecutors, public attorneys, and judges collaborate to streamline case resolution and reduce court congestion.

"With the establishment of the City of San Fernando Justice Zone, we in the JSCC hope to bring this brand and level of justice services in your locality where institutions do not work in silos, but in partnership with each other, with the common objective of ensuring that the citizens of the City of San Fernando experience a justice system that is responsive, accessible, and worthy of their trust," Chief Jus...