Court Operations from 16 September 2022 until Further Orders of the Court

September 15, 2022

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 236-2022

 

There being no substantial adverse development regarding the COVID-19 situation in many parts of the country, and as authorized by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, court operations from 16 to 30 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 100% workforce

[ ] 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%

[ ] 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

Incidentally, it is the concerned Judges without court space or facilities and who are allowed to maintain only a 75% workforce during the above period who will determine the number and schedule of their staff that will report for work on-site in their respective courts.

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. Thus, the wearing of face masks while inside the halls of justice is mandatory and not yet optional at this time.

Should there be pressing concerns that the Judges or court personnel may have regarding their operations from 16 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 30 September 2022.

For the strict compliance and observance of all concerned.

(SGD.) RAUL B. VILLANUEVACourt Administrator