Supreme Court Holds Dialogue with Judges in Dumaguete City
August 29, 2023
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (fourth from right) and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa (to the left of the Chief Justice) engage in a discussion with judges on August 26, 2023, at the Hall of Justice in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. With them is Deputy Court Administrator for Visayas Jenny Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
“The Supreme Court of today, is not the Supreme Court of yesterday.”
Thus remarked Supreme Court Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa to highlight how much the Supreme Court’s processes have improved under various reform projects led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.
During a visit at the Hall of Justice in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on August 26, 2023, Chief Justice Gesmundo, Justice Caguioa, and Deputy Court Administrator for Visayas Jenny Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino met with judges and court personnel from the Dumaguete City Regional Trial Courts (RTC) and Metropolitan Trial Courts in Cities (MTCC), led by Executive Judge Gerardo Ancheta Paguio, Jr.
Also present were judges from Bayawan City RTC, Siaton Municipal Trial Court (MTC), Bais City RTC and MTCC, Sibulan MTC, La Libertad-Vallehermoso Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC), and Bindoy-Manjuyod-Ayungon MCTC.
A dialogue was held with the judges where the Chief Justice reiterated the comprehensive plan of the Supreme Court to make court systems and processes efficient through innovation, with the ultimate goal of increasing the people’s access to justice.
These are further detailed under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), copies of which were distributed to the judges.
Chief Justice Gesmundo stressed the need for the Supreme Court to touch base with judges, who serve as the Judiciary’s front liners. “Our people should be able to attain justice at the first level,” said the Chief Justice, adding that this is the reason the SPJI seeks to enhance processes in the lower courts that are no longer responsive and effective.
In addition to ongoing projects such as the Judiciary Electronic Payment Solution or JePS, electronic filing of pleadings, and online transcription of court proceedings through the Philippine Judiciary 365 platform, Chief Justice Gesmundo also shared changes being explored by the Court to streamline processes in the first- and second-level courts, such as the designation of Deputy Court Administrators based on specialization instead of region; the appointment of court managers who are experts in management and human organization, procurement, and other finance operations; the unburdening of judges of administrative tasks so they can focus on adjudication; and the uploading online of accessible templates for routine court orders so that they can be issued and served on litigants immediately by the end of the hearing, among other proposals.
Justice Caguioa also shared with the judges the Court’s efforts to harmonize legal doctrines from various Supreme Court rulings to properly guide the judges in the resolution of cases. The Rules of Court are also being updated, such as the Rules of Special Proceedings, which will be the subject of public consultations in 2024.
Chief Justice Gesmundo also listened to the questions and comments raised by the judges, stressing that their inputs shall be considered by the Supreme Court En Banc in crafting policies for the Judiciary.
The Chief Justice concluded the dialogue by reminding the judges not to hesitate in reaching the Supreme Court, through DCA Delorino, for their concerns. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo addresses judges at the Hall of Justice in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on August 26, 2023. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Supreme Court Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa addresses judges at the Hall of Justice in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on August 26, 2023. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Deputy Court Administrator for Visayas Jenny Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino survey the Hall of Justice in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental during a visit on August 26, 2023. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)