A.M. No. 8-8-01-SC (Creation and Operation of the Supreme Court Health and Welfare Plan)

August 18, 1998

[A.M. No. 98-8-01-SC]

Gentlemen :

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of the Court En Banc dated August 18, 1998

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER NO. 98-8-01-SC (Creation and Operation of the Supreme Court Health and Welfare Plan).

Pursuant to Section 1, Rule XI of the Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of Executive Order No. 292 and Section 1 of Administrative Order No. 279 dated May 2, 1992, Joint Resolution Nos. 17, 39, 44 and 48 of the Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group (CFAG) have authorized each member agency to put up its own health and welfare plan including but not limited, to Provident Fund, Medical Assistance Program, Mutual Aid Fund, Accident Insurance Program and/or Personnel Welfare Assistance or Special Allowance.

Cognizant of the fact that (a) the existing benefit package extended by the Medicare, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Home Mortgage Development Fund is not sufficient to provide for or meet, the immediate and growing needs of its members/beneficiaries; and (b) the officers and employees of the Supreme Court and lower courts, as well as of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, deserve not only recognition and encouragement but also other forms of assistance in coping with the rising cost of living, such as, especially, medical attendance in case of illness or accident or special allowance in case of emergency, the Honorable Chief Justice Andres R. Narvasa issued Administrative Order No. 1-97-SC, later amended by Administrative Order No. 1-98-SC, creating an Ad Hoc Committee to map out a comprehensive welfare and health plan for the aforesaid officials and employees, in lieu of the existing Mutual Aid Association Fund and the personnel welfare medical as well as the relief assistance extended by the Chief Justice which shall hereafter cease, formulate its operating guidelines, and lay the groundwork for putting it into operation. EDcIAC

IN VIEW THEREOF, the Court hereby Resolves to establish the Supreme Court Health and Welfare Plan and to set up a FUND therefor, which shall be in an initial amount of Sixty-Five Million (P65M) Pesos to be sourced, FIVE MILLION (P5M) PESOS from savings generated from appropriations for the Supreme Court and the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, and SIXTY MILLION (P60M) PESOS, from appropriations for the lower courts; and where such savings should not be sufficient, from the surpluses or balances of service fees paid by public and private agencies availing of procurement, payroll deductions and other services rendered by the Court; or where said savings and surplus of service fees are still insufficient for the purpose, from the Judiciary Development Fund. The seed capital and subsequent contributions of the Supreme Court, the PET and the lower courts shall be in addition to the monthly contributions from the members of the Plan.

The Ad Hoc Committee shall act as the Interim Board of Directors and shall be the administering body of the SC Health and Welfare Plan.

This shall take effect immediately.

Very truly yours,

 

(SGD.) LUZVIMINDA D. PUNOClerk of Court