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

September 1, 2022

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 226-2022

 

With the Supreme Court already on 100% on-site working capacity beginning 1 September 2022, per Memorandum Order No. 133-2022 dated 31 August 2022, and with prior clearance from Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, court operations from 1 to 15 September 2022 in areas whether placed under Alert Level 1 or 2, or even higher, as may be classified by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) or the Department of Health (DOH) as the chair of the IATF, shall be as follows:

COURT OPERATION GUIDELINES (Alert Level 1 or 2, or higher)

[ ] Courts and judicial offices are FULLY OPERATIONAL

[ ] Maintain a workforce of 100%

[ ] Flag raising/lowering ceremonies can be held

[ ] Saturday duty should continue

[ ] Jail visitation as provided for in OCA Circular No. 107-2013 dated 30 August 2013

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

[ ] Pleadings, motions and other court submissions may be filed or served by registered mail, through the services of duly accredited private couriers, or by transmitting them through electronic mail in accordance with the existing electronic filing guidelines

[ ] Regular office hours as prescribed in OCA Circular No. 09-2015 dated 21 January 2015 shall be observed, i.e., Monday to Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (for Judicial Regions 1 to 12) and 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (for National Capital Judicial Region)

[ ] Personal filing and follow-up of cases are allowed, subject to strict health protocols being observed

Again, priority will be given to in-court or face-to-face hearings and the conduct of videoconferencing hearings in court, from home or in other locations shall be subject to the provisions of OCA Circular No. 43-2022 dated 1 March 2022. Also, the raffle of cases in multi-sala stations should be in-person.

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

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

All other issuances of the Supreme 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, or higher, until 15 September 2022.

For the strict compliance and observance of all concerned.

(SGD.) RAUL B. VILLANUEVACourt Administrator