Authorizing the Grant and Release of Fringe Benefit to the Judges, Officials and Personnel of the Lower Courts

January 21, 2011

SUPREME COURT MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 03-A-11

AUTHORIZING THE GRANT AND RELEASE OF FRINGE BENEFIT TO THE JUDGES, OFFICIALS AND PERSONNEL OF THE LOWER COURTS

WHEREAS, by virtue of, and pursuant to, his authority under the General Appropriations Act and the resolutions of the Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group (CFAG), the Chief Justice may grant and authorize the release of fringe benefits to the judges, officials and personnel of the lower courts from the savings from appropriations in the fiscal autonomy account;

WHEREAS, the grant of fringe benefit, in the concept of productivity enhancement incentive, is highly justified in recognition of the commendable performance and contribution of the members and personnel of the judiciary in attaining efficiency in the operations of the courts;

WHEREAS, as reported by the Financial Management Office, Office of the Court Administrator (FMO-OCA), the amount of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00) may be granted to each of the judges, officials and personnel of the lower courts [excluding those in the 7th Judicial Region and the Regional Court Administration Office-Region 7 (RCAO-7)] chargeable against available savings from the regular appropriations of the lower courts in the Fiscal Autonomy Account of the lower courts;

WHEREAS, the same amount of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00) may be granted to the personnel of the Halls of Justice (HOJ), excluding those in the 7th Judicial Region, chargeable against the Fiscal Autonomy Account of the Supreme Court, as certified to by the Fiscal Management and Budget Office (FMBO); cSITDa

Notwithstanding the insufficiency of savings in the regular appropriations allotted for the 7th Judicial Region and the RCAO-7, the amount of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00) may be granted to each of the judges, officials and personnel of the 7th Judicial Region and the RCAO-7 and the personnel of the HOJ in the 7th Judicial Region, chargeable against the available savings in the Fiscal Autonomy Accounts of the lower courts and the Supreme Court, respectively.

NOW THEREFORE, the Chief Justice hereby authorizes the grant and release of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00) to each judge, official and personnel of the lower courts, including those in the 7th Judicial Region and the RCAO-7, and to the personnel of the HOJ, also including those in the 7th Judicial Region, which shall be charged against the respective Fiscal Autonomy Accounts of the lower courts and the Supreme Court.

The benefit herein granted shall be received in its full amount by those who are still in the service, as of November 30, 2010, and shall be subject to the implementing guidelines hereto attached.

The Court Administrator, the Chiefs of the FMO and Office of Administrative Services (OAS), OCA and the Chiefs of the FMBO and the OAS, Supreme Court shall work together to immediately implement this Memorandum Order.

This Memorandum Order shall take effect upon its issuance.

Issued this 21st day of January, 2011.

(SGD.) RENATO C. CORONAChief Justice