Designation of Pilot Courts for Small Claims Cases
Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 141-08, issued on September 29, 2008, establishes designated Pilot Courts for handling small claims cases in the Philippines. This initiative follows the promulgation of the "Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases," which applies to claims not exceeding P100,000. The designated courts will implement the rule to assess its effectiveness in improving access to justice and reducing case backlogs. Additionally, the courts are required to hold weekly hearings for small claims and provide regular reports on case inventories. A review of the pilot project’s feasibility will occur three and six months after implementation.
September 29, 2008
SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 141-08
RE : Designation of Pilot Courts for Small Claims Cases
WHEREAS, the Court En Banc in its Resolution dated September 9, 2008 in A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC has promulgated the "Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases" governing the procedure in actions before the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts for payment of money where the value of the claim does not exceed One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) exclusive of interest and costs;
WHEREAS, to determine the necessity and efficacy of the Rule as a tool for declogging docket or for better access to justice, a pilot project will be launched in selected first level courts where the Rule shall be applied; DCAEcS
NOW, THEREFORE, the following first level courts are hereby designated as Pilot Courts for small claims cases, to wit:
| STATION/BRANCH | NAME OF JUDGE |
| MeTC, Branch 23, Manila | Hon. Maria Zorayda Z. Tuazon |
| MeTC, Branch 34, Quezon | Hon. Caridad W. Lutero |
| City | |
| MeTC, Branch 48, Pasay City | Hon. Catherine P. Manodon |
| MeTC, Branch 66, Makati | Hon. Josefino A. Subia |
| City | |
| MeTC, Branch 49, Caloocan | Hon. Glenda C. Marin |
| City | |
| MeTC, Branch 72, Pasig City | Hon. Joy Nerves Casihan-Dumlao |
| MTTC, Branch 2, Baguio City | Hon. Cleto R. Villacorta III |
| MTCC, Branch 3, Angeles | Hon. Gemma Theresa H. Logronio |
| City | |
| MTCC, Branch 2, City of San | Hon. Mary Jane Dacara-Buenaventura |
| Fernando, Pampanga | |
| MTCC, Branch 2, Cabanatuan | Hon. Wenceslao Trese |
| City | |
| MTCC, Branch 2, Malolos | Hon. Nemesio V. Manlangit |
| City | |
| MTCC, Branch 2, San Pablo | Hon. Dinah Evangeline B. Bandong |
| City | |
| MTCC, Branch 1, Legazpi | Hon. Arlinda G. Resari |
| City | |
| MTC, Bacoor, Cavite | Hon. Manolito Y. Gumarang (Assisting |
| Judge) | |
| MTCC, Antipolo City | Hon. Ma. Consuelo M. Gengos-Ignalaga |
| MTCC, Branch 1, Bacolod | Hon. Jose Paolo G. Ariola |
| City | |
| MTCC, Branch 4, Iloilo City | Hon. Mary Yvette D. Go |
| MTCC, Branch 7, Cebu City | Hon. Francisco A. Seville |
| MTCC, Branch 1, Zamboanga | Hon. Nancy Cuaresma |
| City | |
| MTCC, Branch 3, Cagayan de | Hon. Romualdo E. Galarita |
| Oro City | |
| MTCC, Branch 2, Davao City | Hon. Antonina B. Escovilla |
| MTCC, Branch 3, Gen. Santos | Hon. Alejandro Ramon C. Alano |
| City |
The Pilot Courts herein designated shall hear and decide the small claims cases in accordance with "The Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases (A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC dated September 9, 2008).
Upon effectivity of this Order, all small claims cases filed in the station of these Pilot Courts shall be assigned immediately to the said courts. The Pilot Courts herein designated shall continue to be included in the raffle of cases, criminal and civil, provided that the small claims cases assigned to them shall be considered as raffled to them for equal distribution of cases.
The Pilot Courts shall fix at least one day of the week in their court calendar for the hearing of small claims cases which shall be posted in three (3) conspicuous places in their respective station at the entrance of the Hall of Justice, entrance of the courtroom and entrance of the Office of the Clerk of Court.
The Pilot Courts thus designated shall continue to perform their functions as such within the purview of this Administrative Order even after the retirement, promotion, transfer or detail of the judges appointed/designated to preside over them. Their successors, whether permanent or temporary, shall act as Presiding Judges of these Pilot Courts unless the Supreme Court otherwise directs.
Three (3) months after the implementation of the Rule, an initial assessment shall be undertaken by the Technical Working Group on Small Claims Courts Pilot Project, and six (6) months thereafter a final assessment and project review shall be submitted to recommend the feasibility of applying the Rule to all small claims cases in all first level courts. EHCaDS
The Clerks of Court of these Pilot Courts shall submit a monthly inventory report on small claims cases on or before the tenth (10th) day of the succeeding month to the: The Secretariat, Technical Working Group (TWG) on Small Claims Courts Pilot Project, Office of the Court Administrator, Supreme Court, Padre Faura Street Manila.
The following presiding judges of the pairing courts of the Pilot Courts shall hear and decide the small claims cases pursuant to Section 22 of the Rule, to wit:
| PILOT COURTS | PAIRING COURTS/ |
| PRESIDING JUDGES | |
| MeTC, Branch 23, Manila | MeTC, Branch 24, Manila |
| Hon. Jesusa P. Maningas | |
| MeTC, Branch 34, Quezon City | MeTC, Branch 33, Quezon City |
| Hon. Alfredo D. Ampuan | |
| MeTC, Branch 48, Pasay City | MeTC, Branch 45, Pasay City |
| Hon. Bibiano G. Colasito | |
| MeTC, Branch 66, Makati City | MeTC, Branch 65, Makati City |
| Hon. Henry A. Laron | |
| MeTC, Branch 49, Caloocan City | MeTC, Branch 50, Caloocan City |
| Hon. Norma Z. Go | |
| MeTC, Branch 72, Pasig City | MeTC, Branch 71, Pasig City |
| Hon. Maria Gracia Casaclang | |
| MTTC, Branch 2, Baguio City | MTCC, Branch 1, Baguio City |
| Hon. Roberto R. Mabalot | |
| MTCC, Branch 3, Angeles City | MTCC, Branch 1, Angeles City |
| Hon. Irineo P. Pangilinan | |
| MTCC, Branch 2, City of San | MTCC, Branch 1, City of San Fernando, |
| Fernando, Pampanga | Pampanga |
| Hon. Ma. Lourdes F. Tolentino | |
| MTCC, Branch 2, Cabanatuan | MTCC, Branch 1, Cabanatuan City |
| City | Hon. Renato D. Pinlac |
| MTCC, Branch 2, Malolos City | MTCC, Branch 1, Malolos City |
| Hon. Mario B. Capellan | |
| MTCC, Branch 2, San Pablo City | MTCC, Branch 1, San Pablo City |
| Hon. Priscilla U. Acedera | |
| MTCC, Branch 1, Legazpi City | MTCC, Branch 2, Legazpi City |
| Hon. Raymund M. Jacob | |
| MTC, Bacoor, Cavite | MTC, Imus Cavite |
| Hon. Emily A. Geluz | |
| MTCC, Branch 2, Antipolo City | MTCC, Branch 1, Antipolo City |
| Hon. Antonio Murillo Olivete | |
| MTCC, Branch 1, Bacolod City | MTCC, Branch 2, Bacolod City |
| Hon. Ma. Lorna P. Demonteverde | |
| MTCC, Branch 4, Iloilo City | MTCC, Branch 3, Iloilo City |
| Hon. Alexis A. Zerrudo | |
| MTCC, Branch 7, Cebu City | MTCC, Branch 8, Cebu City |
| Hon. Edgemelo C. Rosales | |
| MTCC, Branch 1, Zamboanga | MTCC, Branch 2, Zamboanga City |
| City | Hon. Ivan C. Mendoza, Jr. |
| MTCC, Branch 3, Cagayan de | MTCC, Branch 4, Cagayan de Oro City |
| Oro City | Hon. Vincent Filomeno B. Rosales |
| MTCC, Branch 2, Davao City | MTCC, Branch 1, Davao City |
| Hon. Evalyn A. Morales (APJ) | |
| MTCC, Branch 3, General Santos | MTCC, Branch 1, General Santos City |
| City | Hon. Marie Ellengrid S. Baliguat |
The Presiding Judges of the Pilot Courts as well as the paired courts and their clerks of court shall undergo a one day orientation seminar.
This Administrative Order shall take effect October 1, 2008.
(SGD.) REYNATO S. PUNOChief Justice
(SGD.) LEONARDO A. QUISUMBINGAssociate Justice
(SGD.) CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGOAssociate Justice