CJ Gesmundo on a Progressive Future: No One Gets Left Behind
February 02, 2023
“[B]uilding a progressive future means ensuring the progress of everyone. It means propelling everyone forward, enabling them to bridge towards the future, with no one left behind,” said Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, as he highlighted some of the Supreme Court’s accomplishments and upcoming projects during the Management Association of the Philippines’ (MAP) 75th Inaugural Meeting and Induction of the 2023 Board of Governors on January 31, 2023 at the Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City.
Chief Justice Gesmundo took the opportune time to share to MAP the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI). The SPJI is the Court’s blueprint of action containing judicial reforms designed to make justice speedy, inexpensive, and accessible, aimed at three outcomes: Efficiency, Innovation, and Access.
The other projects of the Court presented by the Chief Justice were the following: the Ethics Caravan, a Campaign for Ethical Responsibility and a consultation drive for the Proposed Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability; the revision of the Code of Judicial Conduct; the much-improved eCourt version 2.0 software; the Judiciary Enterprise Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Governance Framework, which will be accompanied by a five-year ICT Plan; the drafting of permanent guidelines institutionalizing the conduct of virtual hearings and electronic testimony; the first ever localized and digitized Bar Examinations and the conduct of all succeeding Bar Examinations in a digitized format; the ePayment Solution for the Judiciary, in partnership with UnionBank of the Philippines, recently adding GCash, and GrabPay as Judiciary Epayment System channels for the payment of legal fees and other collections; the National Summit on Legal Aid, which showcased the Court’s two-pronged approach of revitalizing the Integrated Bar’s legal aid program and reinforcing the Clinical Legal Education Program or CLEP under Revised Rule 138-A of the Rules of Court; and the National Summit on Shari’ah Law which will be held in March 2023 .
Chief Justice Gesmundo also encouraged the MAP members to share their management expertise, encourage volunteer services from their ranks, and evaluate and suggest further improvements on our court processes for a more responsive delivery of justice.
Joining Chief Justice Gesmundo were Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, and Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez.
Also present were Assistant Court Administrator and Chief of the Public Information Office Brian Keith F. Hosaka and Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Technology Officer Jed Sherwin G. Uy. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo swears in the 2023 Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) Board of Governors during MAP’s 75th Inaugural Meeting and Induction of the 2023 Board of Governors on January 31, 2023 at the Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City. The 2023 MAP Board of Governors are: (from left) Dr. Cielito F. Habito, Governor; Ms. Martha M. Sazon, Governor; Dr. Donald Patrick Lim, Treasurer; Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad, President; Atty. Alexander B. Cabrera, Vice President; Ms. Maria Corazon D. Purisima, Assistant Treasurer; Ms. Karen V. Batungbacal, Secretary; and Mr. Benjamin R. Punongbayan, Governor. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)