The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered that starting today, Wednesday, at least 80 percent of its personnel, except those in four offices, will be reporting physically for work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and the personal filing of pleadings and other court submissions will be allowed.
In a memorandum order, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said that not covered by the 80 percent workforce are the SC’s medical and dental services, security division, maintenance division, and motor pool section. All personnel in these four offices are required to work onsite starting Feb. 16.
Gesmundo approved the revised work schedule in the SC “considering that the COVID-19 growth rate in Metro Manila has decreased and notwithstanding the extension of Alert Level 2 until Feb. 28, 2022.”
At the Court of Appeals in Manila, 80 percent of the total workforce should report physically to their offices starting Feb. 16 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
The office order issued by CA Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar Fernando stated that onsite raffles and hearings of cases are allowed, and court visitors must present their present proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon entry. Solemnization of marriages by CA associate justices is limited to five participants, including the justice, the order said.
At the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City, all offices are open to court users starting Feb. 16, and personal and electronic filing of pleadings and court submissions are allowed. The anti-graft court will also continue with the issuance of clearances through its outdoor kiosk.
In a memorandum issued by Presiding Justice Roman G. Del Rosario, 80 percent of workforce of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) will report physically to their offices starting Feb. 16. Those not reporting for work onsite must work from home just like the arrangements in the SC, CA, and Sandiganbayan.
For trial courts nationwide, those under Alert Level 3 – Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Guimaras, Zamboanga City, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, and South Cotabato – will have 60 percent of personnel reporting onsite starting Feb. 16. The same number of personnel is also required during Saturday duty.
In areas under Alert Level 2, a total of 80 percent of court personnel will report for work with the same percentage of personnel during Saturday duty.
Night courts are not yet allowed under Alert Level 2 or Alert Level 3.
The work schedule in trial courts under various COVID alert levels was contained in a circular issued by Deputy Court Administrator Raul Bautista Villanueva, also officer-in-charge of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) which supervises all lower courts in the country for the SC.
Hearings through video conferencing are done in areas regardless of alert level.