P3 B more for judiciary

MANILA, Philippines – The Judiciary, Executive and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC) has agreed to increase the budget of the judiciary from P10 billion to P13 billion by 2009.

On its second meeting yesterday afternoon, JELAC secondary member Sen. Francis Pangilinan said they have agreed to hike the judiciary budget by P3 billion next year.

President Arroyo chaired the JELAC meeting at the

Supreme Court. The other members were Vice President Noli de Castro, Senate President Manuel Villar, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Senator Pangilinan, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Rep. Arthur Defensor Jr., and SC Justice Adolfo Azcuna.

Pangilinan considered the P3 billion pledged additional budget as “unprecedented” because this was the biggest increase for the judiciary in a long time.

“This also means it is now pegged to one percent of the national budget,” added Pangilinan.

SC and JELAC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the present P10-billion budget only represents .75 to .88 percent of the national budget, while the P13 billion budget would be equal to 1.04  percent of the national budget.

Pangilinan said there was no need to realign the 2009 budget since the funds for the judiciary budget would be taken from the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Marquez said it was possible that the budget could further increase but only on a “need basis” and on condition that the SC is able to justify its expenditures before the executive and legislative branches.

“In the following year, if there is a need to increase the budget, that can be discussed. We have the assurance. We are pleased with the outcome of the JELAC meeting,” Marquez said.

The additional budget will be allocated for the hiring of more court personnel.

Pangilinan explained that the ideal ratio is one judge for every 10,000 people, but in the Philippines the ratio is one judge for every 50,000 people.

Marquez said one of their priority projects is the establishment of a high-tech Manila City Hall of Justice, a state-of-the-art computerized enclave for court personnel and visitors with the strictest security features. Marquez said they hope to finally jumpstart the project with an initial fund of P1.5 billion.

The additional budget will also augment the creation of 533 positions in the lower courts and finance repairs and maintenance of the Halls of Justice.

The lower courts could be assured of better provisions for supplies and materials.

It would also finance the setting up of court administrations in other regions. The pilot regional court administration was set up in Cebu.

The SC also plans to boost the implementation of its ongoing Action Program for Judicial Reform (APJR) projects such as the Justice on Wheels (JOW) and the Case Administration Management Information Systems (CAMIS).

Pangilinan explained that the judiciary has often taken a “passive” approach when it comes to stating its budgetary needs, but he believed that the SC did not sacrifice its “independence” when it asked for additional budget allocation from the executive and legislative branches.

“We do not undermine its independence. If they (critics) have a better idea on how to address the judiciary, I am willing to junk JELAC. But until they can give an alternative idea, we should try to make this work by providing the necessary resources and strengthen the judiciary,” he said.

He added that the judiciary, being a co-equal branch of government, should not compete for financial resources with other agencies.

“They should be given the necessary respect as a co-equal and JELAC precisely is doing that... provide special budgetary process as a co-equal.”