Creating the Judiciary-Wide Committee on Legal Fees

August 8, 2016

SUPREME COURT MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 33-2016

CREATING THE JUDICIARY-WIDE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL FEES

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court is mandated under Article VIII, Section 5.5 to "[p]romulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts;"

WHEREAS, to ensure that the Court remains steadfast in increasing access to justice to all litigants, there is a need to review all existing rules and guidelines in the payment of legal fees;

WHEREAS, to streamline current systems and procedures in the entire judiciary relative to the assessment and imposition of legal fees, there is a need to create a judiciary-wide committee to holistically evaluate all issues and develop policy recommendation relative to legal fees or Rule 141 of the Rules of Court;

NOW THEREFORE, the Judiciary-Wide Committee on Legal Fees is hereby created and constituted as follows:

Chairperson:	Hon. Raul B. Villanueva
	Deputy Court Administrator
Vice-Chairperson:	Atty. Corazon G. Ferrer-Flores
	Fiscal Management and Budget Office
Members:	Atty. Basilia T. Ringol
	Judicial Records Office
	Atty. Jocelyn T. Fabian
	Ms. Maricia D. Sunga
	Office of the Chief Justice
	Atty. Leah M. Enriquez
	Office of the Court Administrator (OCA)
	Atty. Maria Regina A.F.M. Ignacio
	OCA-Office on Halls of Justice
	Atty. James D.V. Navarrete
	OCA-Legal Office
	Atty. Lilian Barribal-Co
	Atty. Gilda S. Sumpo
	OCA-Financial Management Office
	Ms. Verina F. Yap
	Mr. Dexter S. Ilagan
	OCA-Court Management Office
	Mr. Fernando Prieto
	Court of Appeals
	Atty. Danilo B. Fernando
	Atty. Jesus P. Inocando, Jr.
	Court of Tax Appeals
	Atty. Ernesto Mario S. Mascenon, Jr.
	Atty. Pauline F. Alejandre
	Atty. Ritchelle M. Desingano-Yranela
	Sandiganbayan
	Atty. Jennifer D.L. Buendia
	Office of the Clerk of Court
	Regional Trial Court, Manila
	Atty. Jose Ortiz
	Office of the Clerk of Court
	Metropolitan Trial Court, Quezon City
	Representative
	Office of the Clerk of Court
	Shari'a District or Circuit Court
Resource Person:	Hon. Florito S. Macalino
	Court of Appeals
Secretary:	_______________________________
	To be appointed by the Chairperson

The Committee shall have the following functions and duties:

(1) Continuously reexamine current systems and procedures in the entire judiciary (through internal or external consultations), address access to justice issues, propose improvements thereto, and recommend mechanisms to improve the assessment and imposition of legal fees;

(2) Cause the preparation of all relevant periodical reports;

(3) Propose improvements to the judiciary's automated case management systems that will help the lower courts in accurately and efficiently assess legal fees, in coordination with the Committee on Computerization and Library;

(4) Monitor compliance with existing rules and procedures designed to ensure the equitable and efficient assessment and imposition of legal fees in the entire judiciary;

(5) Develop relevant training materials, in coordination with the Philippine Judicial Academy, to enhance the capacity of all relevant court officials and personnel in the improved process of assessment and imposition of legal fees; HEITAD

(6) Develop a multi-year workplan that shall incorporate the functions and duties herein listed and such other relevant programs, projects and activities (PPA), to be submitted to the Chief Justice within one (1) month from the creation of the Committee. The work plan shall include description of each PPA, its expected outcome or output, budget requirements, and focal persons; and

(7) Perform such functions as may be directed by the Chief Justice or by the Court and those that are inherent, incidental or essential to the accomplishment of its above duties and objectives.

The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Members and Members of the Secretariat of the Committee shall receive the usual expense allowances.

This Memorandum Order shall take effect upon its issuance this 8th day of August 2016.

(SGD.) MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENOChief Justice

(SGD.) ANTONIO T. CARPIOSenior Associate Justice

(SGD.) PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.Associate Justice