MESSAGE FROM THE UNDERSECRETARY

The Department of Agrarian Reform Legal Information System (DAR LIS) is finally here. The very first of its kind in the government service in terms of scope, magnitude, and availability to the public, DAR LIS is also the first comprehensive legal database containing "copy pastable" content with a full text search capability. Since this is also accessible in the internet through the DAR website, practically the whole world can now easily access the policies, issuances, orders, decisions, legal opinions, and other significant information of and by the Department.

As the DAR LIS also contains a collection of all agrarian-reform related laws and jurisprudence, as well as the important issuances and guidelines of other agencies on personnel discipline, procurement, and other legal matters, the quality and promptness of legal work in the DAR will definitely be further enhanced and expedited. Hence, not only will this system flesh out the Department's commitment to the highest standards of transparency in governance, it will also concretely help in the implementation of the agrarian reform program, especially in the area of agrarian justice.

I particularly wish to thank Assistant Secretary Frances Aquino and the entire staff of the Legal Affairs Office for the extraordinary effort they exerted in making this milestone possible. May I also thank CD Technologies Asia, Inc. who partnered with us in developing this breakthrough. CD Asia is the leader in electronic legal publishing with more than seventeen years experience in law-related research initiatives.

I am therefore very happy with today's launching of the DAR's online Legal Information System in the world wide web, and encourage everyone to visit the site: www.dar.gov.ph or www.lis.dar.gov.ph.

SULONG AGRARYO!

(SGD.) ANTHONY N. PARUÑGAO

Undersecretary, Legal Affairs Office