Chief Justice assigns staff to RCAO 7

Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno recently designated personnel to the Regional Court Administration Office (RCAO) 7 in order to enhance the autonomy and efficiency of the judiciary and the administration of justice in the country.

In Administrative Order No. 16-2008 titled “Designating the Regional Court Administrator, Deputy Regional Court Administrator and Assistant Court Administrators for pilot RCAO in the Seventh Judicial Region,” Puno said the order is pursuant to En Banc Resolution in A.M. No. 06-11-09-SC dated Nov. 14, 2006, titled “Implementing the pilot project on enhancing the autonomy, accountability, and efficiency of the Judiciary, and the administration of justice, establishing and opera­tionalizing the pilot organization infrastructure, providing for general implementation arrangements and other purposes.”

Among those designated are the following: Judge Cresencio Rafael Tan Jr., presiding Judge, Regional Trial Court, Branch 30, Dumaguete City; Regional Court Admi­nistrator; Atty. Rullyn Gar­cia, Judicial Supervisor, Office of the Court  Administrator, Supreme Court, Manila De­pu­ty Regional Court Admi­nis­trator; Atty. Rosemarie Paba­tao, branch clerk of court, Regional Trial Court, Branch 22, Cebu City, assistant regional court administrator for budgeting and Atty. Catherine Bagano, branch Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Branch 57, Cebu City, assistant regional court administrator for financial accounting and disbursement.

Others are Atty. Isidro Bongcayao Jr., branch clerk of court, Regional Trial Court, Branch 25, Danao City, assistant regional court administrator for general services; Atty. Denis Pacas, branch clerk of court, Regional Trial Court, Branch 54, Lapu-Lapu City, assistant regional court administrator for human resources development; Cefe­rino Faunillan Jr., financial and management officer II, program management office, Supreme Court, Manila, assistant regional court administrator for revenue management.

The designated Regional Court Administrator may propose the  detail of other support personnel as may be necessary in facilitating the implementation of the pilot RCAO in the Seventh Judicial Region.

The designated personnel to the identified positions shall continue to receive their basic monthly salaries.

They shall also be authorized to receive all other compensation from the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF) and other sources as well as other personnel benefits at rates consistent with those authorized for the positions to which they are designated or their equivalent, provided that those who are receiving higher rates due to their current positions will  continue to receive the higher rates.

The designated personnel shall be detailed on full-time basis and shall be freed of all assignments and responsibilities of their current positions.

All personnel detailed to the pilot RCAO shall be entitled to a monthly honorarium which shall not exceed 20 percent of the amount of their current basic monthly salary. 

This order took effect upon its issuance on Jan. 23, 2008 and shall be effective for six months until, or unless extended by Puno.