The Philippine Tax Academy, through the Customs Institute (CI), successfully concluded its Mandatory Continuing Legal Program conducted on October 12, 19, 26, and November 9, 2024.

A total of 56 lawyers consisting mostly of lawyers assigned at the Bureau of Customs took part and completed their 8th compliance of MCLE, which enabled them to comply with Bar Matter 850 of the Supreme Court.

Bar Matter 850 directs all lawyers to take MCLE every three (3) years to ensure that throughout their career, they keep abreast with the law and jurisprudence, maintain the ethics of the profession and enhance the standards of the practice of the law.

The MCLE Governing Board approved the accreditation of PTA as a provider of the MCLE program on September 12, 2024.

The lawyers took 36 units of MCLE subjects which consisted of six (6) hours of Legal Ethics, four (4) hours of Trial and Pre-trial skills, five (5) hours of Alternative Dispute Resolution, nine (9) hours of substantive and procedural laws and jurisprudence, four (4) hours of legal writing and oral advocacy, two (2) hours of international law and international conventions, and six (6) hours MCLE-prescribed subjects.

The lecturers consisted of the following legal experts:  Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gener Gito, Atty. Glenda Litong, Atty. Brenda Jay Angeles Mendoza, Atty. Ma. Lourdes Evelyn Oliveros, Atty. Irene de Torres Alogoc, Atty. Froilyn Doyaoen- Pagayatan, Atty. Ferdinand Nague, Atty. Nelson Gargoles, and Atty. Rosario Ramos Olivas.

The accreditation and conduct of the MCLE activity were spearheaded by the CI Chancellor Atty. Noemi B. Alcala-Garcia and Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Pableo, with support from the Committee on Curriculum Development and Academic Affairs (CCDAA), the Learning and Development Division, and the Research, Education and Innovation Division of the PTA.

“The PTA MCLE Banner posted outside the Department of Finance along Roxas Boulevard”

“MCLE participants pose alongside the Customs Institute’s leadership, lecturer, and training team. Seated in front (left to right): Chancellor Atty. Noemi B. Alcala-Garcia, Lecturer Atty. Froilyn Doyaoen-Pagayatan, Vice Chancellor Dr. Elizabeth B. Pableo, and Atty. Ruby Claudia M. Alameda.”