Physical Closure of Courts from 21 to 31 January 2022

January 21, 2022

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 20-2022

 

As authorized by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, with additional areas in the country being placed under Alert Levels 3 and 4 by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), as announced last night, 20 January 2022, by Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, and in accordance with the approved recommendations stated in the Memorandum dated 21 January 2022 from the Office of the Court Administrator, the courts in the areas listed below are PHYSICALLY CLOSED to all court users from 21 to 31 January 2022:

A. For Luzon

a. Cordillera Administrative Region: Apayao;

b. Region 4-B: Puerto Princesa City;

c. Region 5: Masbate.

B. For Visayas

a. Region 7: Siquijor.

C. For Mindanao

a. Region 9: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay;

b. Region 10: Lanao del Norte;

c. Region 11: Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental;

d. Region 12: North Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat;

e. CARAGA: Surigao del Norte;

d. BARMM: Maguindanao, Basilan.

Accordingly, all the concerned Judges, court personnel and court users of the first and second level courts in the above areas are directed to comply entirely with the guidelines mentioned in OCA Circular No. 05-2022A dated 16 January 2022, as well as with the applicable protocols contained in previous and current resolutions of the IATF.

Particular to Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province and Northern Samar, which have been placed under Alert Level 4 from 21 to 31 January 2022, as these provinces have all been physically closed until 31 January 2022 after being placed earlier under Alert Level 3 by the IATF, per Supplemental Memorandum Order Nos. 10-2022-A dated 13 January 2022 and 10-2022-B dated 14 January 2022, respectively, then court operations thereat shall continue to be governed by the aforesaid memoranda, as well as by the directives found in OCA Circular No. 05-2022A.

In the event that there are specific matters that may apply only to areas declared under Alert Level 4 by the IATF during the subject period, which may have a significant impact on the current policies that have so far been adopted regarding the courts, the same should be brought to the attention of the OCA by the concerned Executive Judge or Presiding Judge for appropriate action.

For the guidance and strict compliance of all concerned.

(SGD.) RAUL BAUTISTA VILLANUEVADeputy Court Administrator and OCA-Officer-in-Charge(Per Memorandum Order No. 108-2021 dated 17 November 2021)