Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Justice on Wheels Project

August 10, 2004

A.M. NO. 04-6-02-SC

Gentlemen:

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of the Court En Banc dated August 10, 2004

"A.M. No. 04-06-02-SC. — Re: Launching the Justice on Wheels Project and Creating an Ad Hoc Committee for the Purpose. — The Court Resolved to APPROVE the Proposed Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Justice on Wheels Project, to wit: DScTaC

PROPOSED IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS

JUSTICE ON WHEELS PROJECT

WHEREAS, the Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP) under the Supreme Court's Action Program for Judicial Reform (APJR) addresses, among others, the Judiciary's problems concerning case adjudication and access to justice;

WHEREAS, the Justice on Wheels Project is a special project identified under the JRSP to improve access to justice by the poor and marginalized sectors, encourage the speedy disposition of cases through the use of alternative means of dispute resolution, and provide affordable judicial services;

WHEREAS, on 8 June 2004, the Supreme Court En Banc issued A.M. No. 04-6-02-SC (amended on 13 July 2004) which created an Ad Hoc Committee tasked to implement the Justice on Wheels Project by (1) preparing the design of the vehicles that shall serve as the Justice on Wheels; and (2) formulating the rules governing the implementation of the Justice on Wheels;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Committee, by and these presents, hereby adopts the following Rules and Regulations on the Implementation of the Justice on Wheels Project:

I. OBJECTIVES:

The internal Rules and Regulations of the Ad Hoc Committee (Committee) for the implementation of the Justice on Wheels Project aim to (1) create and define the functions of the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) that will assist the Ad Hoc Committee in the implementation of the project; (2) formulate a feasible schedule and coordinate the different segments of the project; and (3) provide a mechanism for constant progress monitoring, feedback, and refinement of the Rules;

II. PRE-DEPLOYMENT PHASE: The Technical Working Groups

1. There shall be three (3) Technical Working Groups, which shall be responsible for the [a] design of the vehicles, [b] court jurisdictional structure, and [c] operational details.

2. The TWGs shall be composed of the following:

2.1	Design of the Vehicles:
	Group Leader:	DCA Christopher O. Lock
	Members:	DCA Jose O. Perez
		Deputy Director Edilberto Davis, PMO
		Atty. Rullyn S. Garcia, OCA
		Representative from the Motor Pool
2.2	Court Jurisdictional Structure
	Group Leader:	DCA Zenaida N. Elepaño
	Members:	Justice Lucas Bersamin, Court of Appeals
		Judge Myra Fernandez, MeTC, Manila
		Atty. Katrina C. Monsod, OCJ
		Atty. Maria Christina M. Cabrera, PHILJA
	Consultant:	Justice Oscar Herrera
2.3	Operational Details
	Group Leader:	Mrs. Fe Aguila, OAS-OCA
	Members:	Atty. Thelma Bahia, CMO, OCA
		Mrs. Antonina A. Soria, FMO-OCA
	Liaison:	ACA Ismael G. Khan, PIO
	Consultant:	Ms. Vicky Alinsug, CPRM

 

3. The TWGs shall perform the following tasks to be accomplished on or before the target dates herein indicated:

3.1	Design of the Vehicle
	Activity	Target Date
3.1.1	Decide on the general features or	11 August 2004
	specifications of the vehicle and the
	internal layout of the mobile court;
3.1.2	Canvass the possible suppliers of	20 August 2004
	the mobile court (car manufacturers and
	car service providers), and determine
	the cost of their acquisition either by
	sale or lease;
3.1.3	Decide on the manner of	25 August 2004
	acquisition of the vehicles;
3.1.4	Determine the manner and cost of	25 August 2004
	maintenance of the mobile courts; and
3.1.5	Assist in the preparation of the bid	30 August 2004
	documents and monitor the bidding
	process.
3.1.6	Submission of bid documents to	15 September 2004
	the JRSP Bids and Awards Committee
3.2	Jurisdictional Structure
	Activity	Target Date
3.2.1	Define the jurisdiction of the	August–September 2004
	mobile courts, taking into account
	established remedial rules and existing
	reform efforts of the Court related to or
	aimed at improving access to justice
	and the speedy disposition of cases, i.e.,
	(a) the Protection of Women and
	Children; (b) Mediation and Enhanced
	pre-trial proceedings; (c) Rules on
	Summary Procedure;
3.2.2	Prepare a draft Rules of Procedure	August–September 2004
	for the mobile courts;
3.2.3	Present the draft Rules of	October 2004
	Procedure to stakeholders during
	consultations in the pilot areas i.e., with
	judges, mayors, barangay officials,
	prosecutors, members of the IBP, PAO,
	etc., and
3.2.4	Finalize the Rules of Procedure	November 2004
	(conduct further consultations); and
3.2.5	Prepare the forms or documents to	November 2004
	be used in the conduct of business of
	the mobile courts.
3.3	Operational Details
3.3.1	Determine the ideal areas for pilot	13 August 2004
	deployment;
3.3.2	Devise a plan of selecting or	20 August 2004
	assigning the judges who will preside
	over the mobile courts;
3.3.3.	Determine the manner of	20 August 2004
	selecting or hiring the personnel who
	will comprise the staff of the mobile
	courts;
3.3.4	Determine monetary or non-	20 August 2004
	monetary incentives that may be given
	to judges and personnel of the mobile
	courts;
3.3.5	Determine the office equipment	20 August 2004
	and facilities for use in the mobile
	courts;
3.3.6	Assist in the preparation of bid	August–September 2004
	documents for equipment, and the
	hiring/designating the mobile court
	judge and personnel.
3.3.7	Attend consultation meetings in	October 2004
	the pilot areas to determine options for
	other administrative matters such as (a)
	notice and scheduling concerns; (b)
	accommodations; (c) security.

 

III. DEPLOYMENT PHASE: Communication and Feedback HCSEcI

1. The Committee shall endeavor to gain public support for the project through constant information dissemination, preferably through media, on the nature and objectives of the project. For this purpose, the Committee shall closely coordinate with the Court's Public Information Office (PIO) by providing the latter with updates on the project.

2. The Committee shall reach out to the grassroots, through local public officials, especially in the pre-identified pilot areas. For this purpose, the Committee shall identify and communicate to the local public officials, including governors, mayors, and barangay captains, in the pilot areas the nature and objectives of the mobile courts, entreating them to disseminate the same to their constituents.

3. The Committee, through the PIO in coordination with the CMO-OCA, shall prepare a feedback mechanism and monitor the effectiveness of the mobile courts during the deployment phase.

IV. TIMETABLE

The Committee shall take such measures as may be necessary to ensure the deployment and operation of the first mobile courts by December 2004. For this purpose, the Committee shall coordinate and work closely with the JRSP Bids and Awards Committee to ensure that the vehicles to be used as mobile courts shall be acquired and delivered to the Court within the deadline.

The pilot period shall be one (1) year from the date of deployment of the mobile courts.

V. POST-DEPLOYMENT PLAN

The Committee shall perform the following tasks at the end of the pilot testing period:

1. Evaluate the over-all performance of the mobile courts, and make the necessary report and recommendations to the Court;

2. Identify other areas where mobile courts may be established or deployed;

3. Determine what features or specifications of the vehicles used as mobile courts should be improved on;

4. Review the Rules of Procedure of mobile courts, and determine whether amendments or revision thereof are necessary; and

5. Determine the necessity of institutionalizing the mobile courts in the Philippine justice system by vesting it with exclusive jurisdiction over certain cases.

VI. MEETINGS

1. The Ad Hoc Committee

The Committee shall hold regular meetings on every other Friday beginning 20 August 2004 at 3:00 p.m. During these meetings, the members of the Committee can be briefed on the progress of the TWGs. The Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman, may call for a special meeting should the need arise.

2. The Technical Working Groups

The Technical Working Groups shall hold a regular meeting every week. A special meeting may be called by the Chairman should the need arise.

VII. EXPENSE ALLOWANCE

The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and members of the Committee as well as the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, members and consultant of the Technical Working Groups shall be entitled to the expense allowance provided for in Administrative Circular No. 13-99 dated 30 September 1999, as amended by Memorandum Order No. 02-2003 dated 2 January 2003.

VIII. SUBMISSION

These Implementing Rules and Regulations shall be submitted to the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court En Banc for appropriate action in accordance with the Committee's mandate under A.M. No. 04-6-02 dated 8 June 2004, as amended on 13 July 2004. AcSHCD

Approved this 3rd day of August 2004.

Hon. Adolfo S. AzcunaAssociate JusticeChairman

DCA Zenaida N. ElepañoOffice of the Court AdministratorVice-Chairman

DCA Christopher O. LockOffice of the Court AdministratorMember

ACA Ismael G. Khan, Jr.Public Information OfficeMember

Director Evelyn Toledo-DumdumProgram Management OfficeMember

Deputy Director Edilberto A. DavisProgram Management OfficeMember

Atty. Thelma BahiaOIC, Court Management OfficeOffice of the Court AdministratorMember

Very truly yours,

(SGD.) LUZVIMINDA D. PUNOClerk of Court