OCA Circular No. 129-09 addresses the exemption from payment of Transcript of Stenographic Notes (TSN) fees for all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, as outlined in Section 22 of Rule 141 of the Revised Rules of Court. This exemption applies to the Commission on Audit (COA) and other government entities, allowing them to obtain certified transcripts without incurring legal fees. The circular reminds judges and clerks of court to grant this exemption automatically, without requiring individual requests from each agency. It emphasizes the need for compliance with the established legal provisions regarding fee exemptions.
September 24, 2009
OCA CIRCULAR NO. 129-09
| TO | : | All Judges and Clerks of Court of the First and Second Level Courts |
| SUBJECT | : | Exemption from Payment of Transcript of Stenographic Notes (TSN) of All Agencies and Instrumentalities of the National Government |
WHEREAS, Sec. 11 of Rule 141 of the Revised Rules of Court requires payment of stenographer's fees as follows:
"SEC. 11. Stenographers. — Stenographers shall give certified transcript of notes taken by them to every person requesting the same upon payment to the Clerk of Court of (a) TEN (P10.00) PESOS for each page of not less than two hundred and fifty words before the appeal is taken and (b) FIVE (P5.00) PESOS for the same page after the filing of the appeal, provided, however that one-third (1/3) of the total charges shall accrue to the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF) and the remaining two-thirds (2/3) to the stenographers concerned." cDCaHA
WHEREAS, Sec. 22 of Rule 141, as amended, clearly exempts the Commission on Audit (COA) from payment of legal fees, to wit:
"SEC. 22. Government exempt. — The Republic of the Philippines, its agencies and instrumentalities are exempt from paying the legal fees provided in the rule. Local governments and government-owned or controlled corporations with or without independent charters are not exempt from paying such fees.
However, all court actions, criminal or civil, instituted at the instance of the Provincial, City or Municipal Treasurer or Assessor under Sec. 280 of the Local Government Code of 1991 shall be exempt from payment of Court and Sheriff's fees. (Page 211 of the Manual for Clerks of Court)"
WHEREAS, in the resolution of the Court En Banc dated June 30, 2009 in A.M. No. 08-4-9-SC (Re: Request for Transcript of Stenographic Notes [TSN] Free of Charge from Drug Courts) — the Court Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator, to:
"(a) NOTE and GRANT the letter request of the Commission on Audit for exemption from payment of fees for copies of transcript of stenographic note; (emphasis ours) and
"(b) AUTHORIZE the Office of the Court Administrator to issue a circular reminding all courts of the exemption provided under Section 22, Rule 141, Revised Rules of Court, as amended, and clarifying that exemption from payment of stenographer's fee under Section 11 of the same rule should be granted by courts without the need for each and every agencies and instrumentalities of the national government to request this Court for authority to avail of such exemption."
NOW, THEREFORE, all Judges and Clerks of Court are reminded that the exemption from payment of legal fees of those mentioned in the above quoted Sec. 22 of Rule 141, as amended, specifically stenographer's fees should be recognized and granted by courts without the need for each and every agency and instrumentality of the national government to request the Supreme Court for authority to avail of such exemption. TCacIE
(SGD.) JOSE P. PEREZCourt Administrator