Authorizing the Grant and Release of P2,500 to Each Personnel in the Judiciary

May 21, 2012

SUPREME COURT MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 11-12

AUTHORIZING THE GRANT AND RELEASE OF TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P2,500.00) FROM THE CURRENT SURPLUS IN THE COLLECTIONS FOR THE SPECIAL ALLOWANCE FOR THE JUDICIARY (SAJ) TO EACH OF THE PERSONNEL IN THE JUDICIARY

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9227 (entitled An Act Granting Additional Compensation in the Form of Special Allowances for Justices, Judges and All Other Positions in the Judiciary with the Equivalent Rank of Justices of the Court of Appeals and Judges of the Regional Trial Court, and for Other Purposes) authorizes the Court to increase the current legal fees and to impose new fees for the Judiciary Development Fund to enable the Judiciary to raise the funds needed to pay for the special allowances provided for in the law; ASaTHc

WHEREAS, the third paragraph of Section 3 of R.A. No. 9227 provides:

"If the collections from any increase in current fees and any new fees imposed after the effectivity of this Act exceed the amount needed to fund the special allowances granted to justices, judges and all other positions in the Judiciary with the equivalent rank of justices of the Court of Appeals and judges of the Regional Trial Court as authorized under existing laws, the surplus may be used by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to grant additional allowances exclusively to other court personnel not covered by the benefits granted under this Act."

WHEREAS, in the resolution dated June 7, 2011 in the consolidated administrative matters A.M. No. 07-5-10-SC and A.M. No. 07-8-03-SC, the Court ordered that judiciary officials and personnel, who are not direct beneficiaries under R.A. No. 9227, may continue to receive additional allowance, in case of available surplus in the Special Allowance for the Judiciary (SAJ) Fund;

WHEREAS, the collections for the SAJ Fund are kept in a separate account with the Land Bank of the Philippines;

WHEREAS, the Fiscal Management and Budget Office (FMBO) has reported that, after setting aside sufficient amounts in the SAJ Fund for the payment of the SAJ and the salary increases authorized under executive issuances for the month of May 2012, in accordance with the aforesaid resolution of the Court, dated June 7, 2011, in the consolidated administrative matters A.M. No. 07-5-10-SC and A.M. No. 07-8-03-SC, and the aforesaid paragraph 3, Section 3 of R.A. No. 9227, there would be enough surplus in the collections for the SAJ Fund, a part of which can be granted and released to the personnel;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of and pursuant to his authority under Presidential Decree No. 1949 (Judiciary Development Fund Decree), the third paragraph of Section 3 of R.A. No. 9227 and in accordance with Administrative Circular No. 52-2007, dated June 25, 2007, and the June 7, 2011 resolution in the consolidated administrative matters A.M. No. 07-5-10-SC and A.M. No. 07-8-03-SC, the Chief Justice hereby authorizes the grant and release as additional allowance to each of the personnel of the judiciary under permanent, temporary, coterminous, or casual status and who have rendered service for at least six (6) months as of April 30, 2012 and who are not direct beneficiaries under R.A. No. 9227 the amount of TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P2,500.00) from the current surplus in the funds generated pursuant to R.A. No. 9227 for the period from January to April 2012. STcADa

Those who have rendered less than six (6) months of service, as of April 30, 2012, shall receive a pro-rated amount to wit:

Length of Service	Percentage
5 months but less than 6 months	60%
4 months but less than 5 months	50%
3 months but less than 4 months	40%
2 months but less than 3 months	30%
1 month but less than 2 months	20%
Less than 1 month	10%

Employees who have incurred vacation leave without pay during the four-month period from January to April 2012 shall be deducted the corresponding amount of SAJ as follows:

Leave Without Pay	Percentage
1 day to 13 days	17%
14 days to 27 days	33%
28 days to 41 days	50%
42 days to 55 days	67%
56 days to 69 days	83%
70 days to 82 days	100%

Employees who, during the period covered by the grant of the benefit, have died, retired compulsorily, or been separated from the service through no fault of their own, prior to April 30, 2012, shall still be entitled to the SAJ on a pro-rated basis, as follows:

Prior to Retirement/Death	Percentage
Four (4) months	100%
Three (3) months	75%
Two (2) months	50%
One (1) month	25%

For the purpose of computing the number of months of service, the official or employee concerned shall be considered to have rendered one (1) full month of service on the month such official or employee died, retired or was separated from the service regardless of the actual date of death, retirement or separation from the service. IDSaAH

Those who have been found guilty of an administrative charge and have been penalized accordingly, except those who have been reprimanded or warned, during the four-month period from January to April 2012 shall not be entitled to the benefit herein granted.

The judiciary personnel under this Memorandum Order include the personnel of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, the Philippine Judicial Academy and the Judicial and Bar Council.

This Memorandum Order takes effect immediately. The Presiding Justices of the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals, the Court Administrator, the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, the Chiefs of the Office of Administrative Services and the FMBO of the Supreme Court and the Chiefs of the Office of Administrative Services and the Financial Management Office of the Office of the Court Administrator shall forthwith implement it.

Issued this 21st day of May, 2012.

(SGD.) RENATO C. CORONAChief Justice