Grant and Release of Fringe Benefits for the 106th Foundation Anniversary of the Supreme Court

June 1, 2007

SUPREME COURT MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 22-07

AUTHORIZING THE GRANT AND RELEASE OF FRINGE BENEFITS ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE 106th FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF THE SUPREME COURT

By virtue of his authority under Section 58 of the General Appropriations Act for FY 2007 (R.A. 9401) and paragraph (5) of Section 25 of Article VI of the Constitution; and pursuant to and conformably with Joint Resolution No. 1 of the Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group dated 03 April 1992, the Chief Justice hereby grants, on the occasion of the 106th Foundation Anniversary of the Supreme Court on 11 June 2007, fringe benefits at the rate of EIGHT THOUSAND PESOS (P8,000.00),chargeable against the respective Fiscal Autonomy Accounts of the Supreme Court and the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET),to each of the Members, officials and employees of the Supreme Court and the PET, whether such employees are permanent, temporary, coterminous or casual, provided that they are such as of 11 June 2007 and have rendered at least six (6) months of actual service as of that date.

Fringe benefit in the amount of SIX THOUSAND PESOS (P6,000.00),is likewise granted to each of the justices, judges, officials and personnel of the three appellate courts (the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals),chargeable against the funds available in their respective Fiscal Autonomy accounts, as certified to by the proper officials of the said appellate courts, provided that they have not received similar fringe benefits given on the occasion of their respective anniversaries; otherwise, only the difference shall be paid.

The judges, officials and personnel of the lower courts, including personnel of the Halls of Justice, are also granted fringe benefits in the amount of THREE THOUSAND PESOS (P3,000.00),each, chargeable against the available savings in the Fiscal Autonomy Account of the lower courts, as certified to by the Financial Management Office, Office of the Court Administrator and the Fiscal Autonomy Account of the Supreme Court, respectively.

The grant of the aforesaid fringe benefits shall be subject to the implementing guidelines hereto attached.

The Court Administrator, the Clerk of Court, the Chiefs of the Fiscal Management and Budget Office and the Office of the Administrative Services of the Supreme Court and the Chiefs of the Financial Management Office and the Office of Administrative Services of the Office of the Court Administrator shall forthwith implement this Memorandum Order.

This Memorandum Order shall take effect upon its issuance.

Issued this 1st day of June 2007.

(SGD.) REYNATO S. PUNOChief Justice

IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES ON THE GRANT OF FRINGE BENEFITS ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE 106th FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF THE SUPREME COURT PURSUANT TO MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 22-2007

1. All officials and employees of the judiciary and the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) whether such employees are permanent, temporary, coterminous or casual who have rendered at least six (6) months of actual service, as of 11 June 2007, shall be entitled to 100% of the benefits authorized herein.

2. Should actual service rendered be less than six (6) months, as of June 11, 2007, the official or employee concerned shall be entitled to a proportionate amount computed as follows:

Period of Actual Service	Amount of Benefit
Six (6) months or more	100% of the benefit
4 1/2 months, but less than 6 months	75% of the benefit
Three (3) months, but less than 4 1/2
months	50% of the benefit
Less than 3 months	25% of the benefit

   The foregoing notwithstanding, part-time professors of the Philippine Judicial Academy who have rendered at least six (6) months of actual service, as of June 11, 2007, shall be entitled to one-half of the benefit herein granted.

3. Officials or employees who have transferred to the judiciary or PET and are in the service, as of June 11, 2007, from either the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) or the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) in which they have rendered actual service under the Office of a Justice-Member thereof immediately prior to their transfer shall be entitled to the benefit granted herein provided that such actual service, when added to their present service in the judiciary or PET, shall be at least six (6) months.

    Personnel on detail with the Supreme Court or PET from the SET and/or the HRET who have served thereat for at least six (6) months, as of June 11, 2007, shall be entitled to one-half of the benefit granted herein.

4. Officials or employees, who have been on vacation leave without pay during the period covered, shall be entitled to a proportionate amount as follows:

Number of Days of LWOP	Amount of the Benefit
16 – 50 days	75% of the benefit
51 – 85 days	50% of the benefit
86 – 122 days	25% of the benefit

    Those who incurred LWOP of fifteen (15) days or less shall be entitled to the full benefit. CIAacS

5. The release of the benefit to officials or employees who have not filed their applications for leave during the period covered shall be deferred, the same to be released only upon the filing of such leave applications.

6. The following are not entitled to the benefits herein granted:

(a) Those who are no longer in the service as of June 11, 2007;

(b) Consultants;

(c) Those hired through contract for services;

(d) Those who have been absent for thirty (30) days or more without filing an official leave application (AWOL);and

(e) Those who have been found guilty of an administrative charge, except those who have been reprimanded or warned, during the period covered by the grant of the benefit.

7. Any problem arising from the implementation of this benefit which is not covered by the foregoing guidelines shall be referred to the Chief Justice.

1 June 2007.