Efficient Use of Paper Rule (Re: Deferred Compliance with Soft-Copy Requirement of the Efficient Use of Paper Rule)
On June 18, 2013, the Philippine Supreme Court extended the voluntary submission period for soft copies of court-bound papers under the Efficient Use of Paper Rule from June 30 to October 1, 2013. Initially, parties were required to submit both hard copies and soft copies of their pleadings, with full compliance set to begin on July 1, 2013. However, due to the Court's ongoing enhancements to its system and the unpreparedness of many legal practitioners, the deadline was extended to allow for better compliance. After October 1, 2013, the submission of soft copies will be compulsory unless further extensions are granted. This initiative aims to prepare the judiciary for an eventual e-filing system.
June 18, 2013
EN BANC
A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC
EFFICIENT USE OF PAPER RULE
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, on November 13, 2012 the Court issued the Efficient Use of Paper Rule, the pertinent portion of Section 5 of which reads:
Parties to cases before the Supreme Court are further required, on voluntary basis for the first six months [January 1 to June 30, 2013] following the effectivity of this Rule and compulsorily afterwards unless the period is extended, to submit, simultaneously with their court-bound papers, soft copies of the same and their annexes (the latter in PDF format) either to the Court's e-mail address or by compact disc. This requirement is in preparation for the eventual establishment of an e-filing paperless system in the judiciary.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the above, the compulsory submission of soft copies of pleadings and annexes to the Supreme Court will begin on July 1, 2013 unless the Court extends the date;
WHEREAS, the Court is still enhancing its system for processing and using the soft copies of court-bound papers that are filed with it and many law practitioners are not yet prepared for full compliance with the submission requirement. ATSIED
NOW, THEREFORE, the Court RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to EXTEND the PERIOD OF VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION of soft copies of court-bound papers in cases before the Supreme Court from June 30 to October 1, 2013, AND AFTERWARDS REQUIRE THE COMPULSORY SUBMISSION OF THE SAME.
Let this Resolution be published in two newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
Manila, June 18, 2013.
(SGD.) MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENOChief Justice
(SGD.) ANTONIO T. CARPIOAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.Associate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTROAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) ARTURO D. BRIONAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) DIOSDADO M. PERALTAAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) LUCAS P. BERSAMINAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLOAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) ROBERTO A. ABADAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.Associate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) JOSE CATRAL MENDOZAAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) BIENVENIDO L. REYESAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABEAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) MARVIC MARIO VICTOR F. LEONENAssociate JusticeSupreme Court of the Philippines
Published in The Philippine Star on July 5, 2013.