Court Operations from 2 to 15 February 2022

AREAS UNDER ALERT LEVEL 2

National Capital Region

Region 2: Batanes

Region 3: Bulacan

Region 4A: Cavite, Rizal

Region 8: Biliran, Southern Leyte

BARMM: Basilan

COURT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES (Alert Level 2)

[ ] Court and judicial offices shall be PHYSICALLY OPEN

[ ] Maintain a workforce of at least 75% to at most 100%, to enable the courts/judicial offices to address matters and concerns, as far as practicable

[ ] Judges may continue to conduct videoconferencing hearings in cases that do not require in-court appearances. However, in-court attendance shall still be limited to lawyers, parties and witnesses required to participate in-court

[ ] 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)

[ ] For Saturday Duty, per Admin. Circular No. 02-2007 dated 12 January 2007, maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 50% to at most 75%

[ ] 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%

[ ] Judges may continue to conduct Video Conferencing Hearings in their courtroom pursuant to Section II (B) (1) of A.M. No. 20-12-01-SC dated 09 December 2020 (Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing)

[ ] Pleadings, motions and other court submissions may likewise 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, regardless of the Alert Level or Community Quarantine classification

[ ] The period for filing and service of pleadings and other court submissions shall no longer be suspended, regardless of the Alert Level or Community Quarantine Classification, since the same may be done electronically

[ ] In case an area is placed under a conflicting Alert Level System and Community Quarantine Classification, as categorized herein, the more restrictive court operation as provided in the Alert Level System or Community Quarantine Classification shall prevail

[ ] Night courts are not yet allowed in all Alert Levels or Community Quarantine classifications

ALERT LEVEL 3

REGION

PROVINCE/CITY

LUZON

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga and Mountain Province

Region 1

Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan

Region 2

City of Santiago, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino

Region 3

Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales

Region 4A

Batangas, Laguna, Lucena City and Quezon Province

Region 4B

Marinduque, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Puerto Princesa City

Region 5

Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Naga City and Sorsogon

VISAYAS

Region 6

Aklan, Antique, Bacolod City, Capiz, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Guimaras

Region 7

Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor

Region 8

Ormoc City, Tacloban City, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar and Western Samar

MINDANAO

Region 9

City of Isabela, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay

Region 10

Bukidnon, Cagayan de Ore City, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental

MINDANAO

Region 11

Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro

Region 12

General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat

Region 13 (CARAGA)

Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Butuan City

BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)

Maguindanao, Cotabato City and Lanao del Sur

COURT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES (Alert Level 3)

[ ] Court and judicial offices are PHYSICALLY OPEN

[ ] Maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 50% to at most 75%, to enable the courts/judicial offices to address matters and concerns, as far as practicable

[ ] Judges shall maximize videoconferencing hearings and refrain from requiring parties to appear in-court, except in urgent matters and in other matters as they may determine. In-court attendance shall be limited to lawyers, parties, and witnesses required to participate in-court

[ ] 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)

[ ] For Saturday Duty, pursuant to Admin. Circular No. 02-2007 dated 12 January 2007, maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 30% to at most 50%

[ ] For Judges without court space or facilities of their own, but they already have their own personnel, maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 30% to 50%

[ ] Pleadings, motions and other court submissions may likewise 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, regardless of the Alert Level or Community Quarantine classification

[ ] The period for filing and service of pleadings and other court submissions shall no longer be suspended, regardless of the Alert Level or Community Quarantine Classification, since the same may be done electronically

[ ] In case an area is placed under a conflicting Alert Level System and Community Quarantine Classification, as categorized herein, the more restrictive court operation as provided in the Alert Level System or Community Quarantine Classification shall prevail

[ ] Night courts are not yet allowed in all Alert Levels or Community Quarantine classifications