APJR : The Action Program for Judicial Reform

Davis is new Judicial Reform Program Administrator
by John Paul P. Galang

A NEW NAME but familiar face takes over the helm of the Program Management Office. Edilberto Alforque Davis was appointed Judicial Reform Program Administrator of the PMO on March 3, 2008, taking over the coordination and management of various projects and activities of the Supreme Court under the Action Program for Judicial Reform (APJR).

A graduate of B.S. Applied Mathematics from UP Los Baños and holder of a Masters Degree in Public Management, Davis spent much of his career in the National Economic Development Agency (NEDA) where he rose from the ranks to become Assistant Director of its Regional Development Coordination Staff. He joined the Court on July 1, 2002 as Deputy Program Director at the PMO.

“I came to the Court with trepidation as I had no legal or judicial background but it was exciting for me to learn something new about the Judiciary every day since,” Davis said.

The learning happens most of the time during meetings and conversations with the Justices whom he look up to with respect, awe, and admiration.

Describing himself as innately shy, Davis said he is not the type to approach a person first so people would get an impression of him as a very serious person. The most common misconception about him though is that he is a foreigner. That happens, of course, before people actually meet him.
“People would often think I am a foreigner upon hearing my name. But they would be surprised when they see me as I am very much a typical Filipino,” said the 48-year-old Davis who was born and raised in Cebu City.

In fact, his wife Cora was also “victimized” by his American-sounding surname. “My name was the buzz in high school because I topped the entrance exam. Everyone, including Cora, got curious of the foreigner who was going to be their classmate,” Davis recalled.
In the end, Cora was not dismayed to know he was no foreigner as he began stealing her heart away with his charm. After getting married, they were blessed with three children: Jeremy, Jonathan, and Herbert.

Having spent the last six years of his career in the Judiciary, Davis believes he is well-prepared for his new role. His first priority is to review the APJR in light of current developments not only in the Judiciary, but also in the whole country. His goal is to determine “where we are, where we want to go, and how do we get there” in terms of the APJR’s objectives.

“I see my task as a great challenge, having to come up or coordinate ideas on how to address the problems besetting the Judiciary,” Davis averred.
He admitted, however, that the foremost challenge is changing the mind set of people about reforms. He said that being “too set on ways” or doing everything “by the book” is a hindrance to reform. “We can improve things without breaking the rules. Creativity and innovativeness will not come out if our mind is closed to new ideas.”

On leadership and management, he said he puts premium on teamwork and establishing cordial relations among his staff, as well as with the various offices of the Court. He considers it very important as the implementation of judicial reforms requires close coordination with the Judiciary’s stakeholders, particularly those from within the Court.

When asked what he would do if he has the power to change something in the Judiciary at the snap of a finger, he said he would create “a modern Judiciary where everybody is able to harness new technologies to improve the delivery of services.”

Davis knows he is faced with a gargantuan task as head implementer of the judicial reform program. But he is unfazed by the challenge because he knows there is always a way to achieve anything when we put our mind into it.

In the end, he said “the success of our judicial reform program depends not on one individual or institution but on everyone’s active involvement in helping achieve its goals.” #