Adopting an Integrated Compensation Scheme for Positions in the Judiciary

August 9, 1979

LETTER OF IMPLEMENTATION NO. 93

ADOPTING AN INTEGRATED COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR POSITIONS IN THE JUDICIARY

WHEREAS, the Constitution directs the adoption of a standard compensation scheme in Government, which mandate is implemented by P.D. No. 985 authorizing the President to, among others, establish compensation plans for all government officials and employees;

WHEREAS, there is a need for a systematic compensation plan that recognizes and rewards efficient performance and integrity in service for members of the Bench;

WHEREAS, it is necessary to adjust the salaries of government officials and employees, in recognition of increases in the cost of living and to keep abreast of private sector compensation levels;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and instruct:

Coverage

1.0 This Letter of Implementation pertains to compensation in the Judiciary, including the Sandiganbayan. It shall not, however, apply to positions whose salaries were fixed by the Constitution.

General Approach

2.0 Separate compensation plans are hereby adopted for (a) Judicial Component of the Courts, consisting of the Court Administrator and Deputy Court Administrators, the Presiding Justices and Justices, Executive/Presiding Judges, Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, and Judges in the various courts including the Division Clerks of Court and the Executive Officer of the Supreme Court and the Clerk of Court of the Court of Appeals; and (b) non-judicial component, consisting of Clerks of Court, Legal Officers, Stenographers, Administrative Clerical and other support services. These plans are adopted, taking cognizance of existing differences in compensation plans among the various Courts and between the Judiciary and the Executive Branch, and of the provisions in the Constitution calling for a standard government-wide compensation scheme.

Judicial Component

3.0 The following salary rates shall apply to the Court Administrators and Deputy Court Administrators, the Presiding Justices and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan, the Presiding/Executive Judges of the Court of Tax Appeals and the Court of Agrarian Relations Clerk of Court, Supreme Court, Judges of the other various courts and the Division Clerks of Court of the Supreme Court; the Executive Officer of the Supreme Court and the Clerk of Court of the Court of Appeals, as follows:

COMPENSATION SCALE

 

Grade	Step A	Step 2	Step 3
X	P64,476	P67,764	P71,220 per annum
IX	58,368	61,344	64,476
VIII	50,292	52,848	55,536
VII	47,855	50,292	52,848
VI	41,232	43,332	45,540
V	37,344	39,240	41,232
IV	36,624	32,184	33,816
III	25,116	26,388	27,732
II	22,728	23,892	25,116
I	20,585	21,624	22,728

 

4.0 The following positions in the Judiciary are hereby assigned to salary grades in the above compensation scale as follows:

 

Presiding Justice	Court of Appeals	Grade X
Presiding Justice	Sandiganbayan	Grade X
Associate Justice	Court of Appeals	Grade XI
Associate Justice	Sandiganbayan	Grade XI
Presiding Judge	Court of Tax Appeals	Grade VIII
Executive Judge	Court of Agrarian Relations	Grade VIII
Judge:	Court of Tax Appeals	Grade VII
	Court of Agrarian Relations	Grade VII
	Circuit Original Court	Grade VII
	Court of First Instance	Grade VII
	Juvenile & Dom. Rel. Court	Grade VII
Judge	City Court of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan, Pasay, Baguio and Cebu	Grade VI
Judge	First Class Cities other than Manila, Quezon, Caloocan, Pasay, Baguio and Cebu	Grade V

 

5.0 The hiring rate for each grade shall be the first step of the grade except where the official is being promoted from one position to another having overlapping salary grades in which case he shall be entitled to the step next above his salary step in the lower position.

6.0 The salary of positions covered by the scheme shall be adjusted to the first step of their respective salary grades and movement from the first step to the second step and so forth shall be in accordance with rules and regulations to be promulgated jointly by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Minister of the Budget.

7.0 The composition provided in this Letter shall constitute full compensation for justices and judges. No official shall not draw further compensation from city, province or municipality of assignment.

8.0 These new salary rates shall not apply automatically to positions in the Executive Branch, nor to positions performing non-judicial functions in the Judiciary even though they may have been granted by statute or decree, the rank, privilege and/or salary of a Justice or Judge as the case may be.

Non-Judicial Component

9.0 Positions providing the courts support services in such areas as administration, legal research, stenography, security and other auxiliary services shall be covered by a National Compensation and Classification Plans under Presidential Decree No. 985. However, pending the complete classification of positions in the Judiciary, the following salary adjustments are hereby authorized:

9.1 The salary adjustment for non-judicial personnel in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, shall be determined by adding 5% to basic salary and then further increasing it to the next higher salary step in the National Compensation Plan or Salary Schedule under P.D. No. 985.

9.2 The salary adjustment for non-judicial personnel in the lower courts including the Court of Tax Appeals, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Court of Agrarian Relations, Courts of First Instance, Circuit Criminal Courts, City Courts and Municipal Courts shall be determined by adding 10% of the basic actual salary and then placing it at the next higher salary step in the National Compensation Plan on Salary Schedule under P.D. No. 985.

9.3 Future increases in salary shall be governed by the Provisions in P.D. No. 985.

10.0 Cost of Living Allowance. — When an employee whose salary is below P600 monthly still receives an emergency cost of living allowance under P.D. No. 390, such Emergency Cost of Living Allowance shall first be added and integrated into the basic salary before computing the step increases provided under Paragraphs 9.1 and 9.2 herein.

Funding

11.0 The amounts appropriated or salary increases which are incorporated in the budgets of the Judiciary, shall be used for the salary adjustments directed by this Letter. Any deficiency shall be covered by salary lapses and other personal services savings of the Judiciary. Any remaining deficiency shall be covered by the salary adjustment fund in the CY 1979 General Appropriations Act and from budgetary reserves.

Effective Date

12.0 The salary increases authorized in this Letter shall take effect May 1, 1979.

Rules and Regulations

13.0 The rules and regulations needed to comply with this Letter shall be formulated and issued by the Minister of the Budget.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 9th day of August, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Nine.