Court Operations from 1 July 2022 until Further Orders of the Court

June 30, 2022

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 159-2022

 

Consistent with the previous authorities from Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, in accordance with the guidelines on court operations provided in OCA Circular No. 41-2022 dated 28 February 2022, as well as relevant subsequent circulars from the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), and pursuant to Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Resolution No. 169-A dated 27 June 2022, placing provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs), independent component cities (ICCs), component cities and municipalities under their respective Alert Levels 1 and 2 classifications effective 1 to 15 July 2022, the court operations in the hereunder concerned areas that continue to be categorized under Alert Level 1 per the earlier pertinent Resolutions of the IATF, including the above-mentioned latest IATF Resolution, shall be as follows:

AREAS UNDER ALERT LEVEL 1

LUZON

National Capital Region (NCR)

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Baguio City;

Region 1: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Dagupan City;

Region 2: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, City of Santiago;

Region 3: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Angeles City, Olongapo City;

Region 4A: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Lucena City;

Region 4B: Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Puerto Princesa City; and,

Region 5: Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Naga City.

VISAYAS

Region 6: Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo Province, Bacolod City, Iloilo City;

Region 7: Siquijor, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City; and,

Region 8: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc City, Tacloban City.

MINDANAO

Region 9: Zamboanga City;

Region 10: Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City;

Region 11: Davao Oriental, Davao City;

Region 12: South Cotabato;

Region 13 (CARAGA): Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Butuan City; and,

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM): Cotabato City.

COURT OPERATION GUIDELINES (Alert Level 1)

[ ] Courts and judicial offices are FULLY OPERATIONAL

[ ] Full on-site 1 staff complement to report for work

[ ] For Judges without court space or facilities of their own, but they already have their own personnel, maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 75%

[ ] Night courts are allowed to operate in stations where these have been organized or required

[ ] Executive Judges may conduct jail visitations as provided for in OCA Circular No. 107-2013 dated 30 August 2013

[ ] Flag raising/lowering ceremonies can be held

For courts in the herein listed areas that remain under Alert Level 2 until 15 July 2022, their operations shall be governed by the guidelines as provided as well in OCA Circular No. 41-2022, together with the relevant subsequent OCA circulars that were issued:

AREAS STILL UNDER ALERT LEVEL 2

LUZON

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): Benguet, Ifugao;

Region 4A: Quezon Province;

Region 4B: Occidental Mindoro, Palawan; and,

Region 5: Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate.

VISAYAS

Region 6: Antique, Negros Occidental;

Region 7: Bohol, Cebu Province, Negros Oriental; and,

Region 8: Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar (Western Samar).

MINDANAO

Region 9: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, City of Isabela;

Region 10: Lanao del Norte;

Region 11: Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental;

Region 12: North Cotabato (Cotabato), Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, General Santos City;

Region 13 (CARAGA): Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte; and,

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM): Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi.

COURT OPERATION GUIDELINES (Alert Level 2)

[ ] Courts and judicial offices are PHYSICALLY OPEN

[ ] Maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 80%2

[ ] For Judges without court space or facilities of their own, but they already have their own personnel, maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 50% to at most 75%

[ ] Night courts are not yet allowed to operate

Although Benguet, Ifugao, Quezon Province, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Antique, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu Province, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Tawi-Tawi are under Alert Level 2, and without prejudice to those cities and municipalities already under Alert Level 1 pursuant to IATF Resolution Nos. 165-G dated 8 April 2022, 166-A dated 12 April 2022, 167-A dated 28 April 2022, 167-C dated 2 May 2022, 167-F dated 14 May 2022, 168-A dated 26 May 2022, and 168-G dated 14 June 2022, the following cities and municipalities, many of which are listed in IATF Resolution No. 168-G, have been placed also under Alert Level 1 per IATF Resolution No. 169-A:

 

REGION	CITY/MUNICIPALITY
LUZON
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
Benguet	[ ] Buguias, Tublay
Ifugao	[ ] Kiangan, Lagawe, Lamut
Region IV-A:
Quezon	[ ] Atimonan, Candelaria, City of Tayabas, Dolores, Lucban, Mauban, Pagbilao, Plaridel, Polillo, Quezon, Sampaloc, San Antonio, Tiaong, Unisan
Region IV-B
Occidental Mindoro	[ ] Calintaan, Looc, Lubang, Rizal
Palawan	[ ] Cagayancillo, Culion
Region 5:
Camarines Norte	[ ] Basud, Capalonga, Daet, San Vicente, Talisay
Camarines Sur	[ ] Bombon, Cabusao, Camaligan, Caramoan, Goa, Iriga City, Pamplona, Pili, Presentacion, San Fernando, San Jose, Tigaon
Masbate	[ ] Balud, City of Masbate, Mandaon
VISAYAS
Region 6:
Antique	[ ] Anini-y, San Jose, Sebaste, Tobias Fornier
Negros Occidental	[ ] Cadiz City, Candoni, City of Talisay, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Sagay City, San Enrique, Valladolid
Region 7:
Bohol	[ ] Batuan, Calape, Corella, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Maribojac, San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Sikatuna, Tagbilaran City
Cebu Province	[ ] Alcoy, Borbon, City of Talisay, Oslob, Pilar, Santander, Tudela
Negros Oriental	[ ] Amlan, Bacong, Dauin, Dumaguete City, Valencia, Zamboanguita
Region 8:
Leyte	[ ] Albuera, City of Baybay, Dulag, Javier, La Paz, Matag-ob, Matalom, Palo, Tunga, Villaba
Northern Samar	[ ] Allen, Capul, Lapinig, Lavezares, San Antonio, San Jose, Victoria
Samar	[ ] Marabut, Pagsanghan, Paranas, Tarangnan, Zumarraga
MINDANAO
Region 9:
Zamboanga del Norte	[ ] Dapitan City, Dipolog City, Jose Dalman, Labason, Manukan, Piñan, Polanco, Rizal, Salug
Zamboanga del Sur	[ ] Kumalarang, Lambangan, Lapuyan, Mahayag, Molave, Ramon Magsaysay
Zamboanga Sibugay	[ ] Alicia, Buug, Diplahan, Ipil, Siay, Tungawan
Region 10:
Lanao del Norte	[ ] Bacolod, Baroy, Kauswagan, Lala, Linamon, Tubod
Region 11:
Davao de Oro	[ ] Mawab, Montevista, Nabunturan, New Bataan
Davao del Sur	[ ] Padada
Region 12:
North Cotabato	[ ] Antipas, Arakan, City of Kidapawan, President Roxas
Sultan Kudarat	[ ] City of Tacurong, Kalamansig, Lebak
Region 13 (CARAGA):
Agusan del Sur	[ ] Bunawan, Loreto, Prosperidad, San Francisco, Santa Josefa, Sibagat
Dinagat Islands	[ ] Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto, Tubajon
Surigao del Norte	[ ] Claver, Dapa, General Luna, Mainit, Tagana-an
BARMM:
Lanao del Sur	[ ] Bumbaran, Ditsaan-Ramain, Wao
Maguindanao	[ ] South Upi, Upi
Tawi-Tawi	[ ] Turtle Islands

 

Also, all common court operation guidelines for areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2, as cited in OCA Circular No. 41-2022, shall continue to be in force.

In addition, all other issuances of the Court or the OCA that are inconsistent herewith will no longer be applicable to the courts in areas under either Alert Level 1 or 2.

Further, all health and safety protocols against COVID-19 prescribed by the Court and the OCA, as well as those required by the IATF and the Department of Health, shall be complied with whatever is the Alert Level of a particular area.

In the event that there are pressing concerns that the Judges or court personnel may have regarding their operations from 1 July 2022, the same shall be referred to the OCA for appropriate action.

For the strict compliance and observance of all concerned.

(SGD.) RAUL B. VILLANUEVACourt Administrator

Footnotes

1. Sec. 6, Guidelines on the Nationwide Implementation of Alert Level System for COVID-19 Response (as of 14 December 2021).

2. Id., Sec. 5 (4).