In its 2nd meeting in the En Banc Conference Room, New Building of the Supreme Court on June 12, 2008, the Judiciary, Executive, and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELACC) pledged to give its full support on particular priority concerns in the budget of the Judiciary.

Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, together with the Justices of the Supreme Court and other officials of the Judiciary, welcomed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other members of JELACC, and received other guests in the Dignitaries’ Lounge of the Court.

Chief Justice Puno was assured anew by his fellow JELACC members that the Judiciary’s share in the National Budget would be increased to at least one (1) percent for the year 2009.

The pledged increase will augment the budget allocation of the Judiciary in the area of personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), and in the implementation of its ongoing Action Program for Judicial Reform Project (APJR), among others.

In terms of personal services, the increase will finance the creation of 52 salas of lower courts (per House Bills/Republic Acts) and three Regional Court Administration Offices (RCAO) in Makati and in Regions 3 and 7. In terms of MOOE, the increase will provide additional funds for the traveling expenses of officials tasked to conduct financial and judicial audits, the investigation of judges and court personnel, out-of-town panel interviews of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the ocular inspections of the Halls of Justice (HOJs) nationwide, and the continuing implementation of the e-Library of the Court.

The increase will also finance rental expenses for the lease of office spaces to house lower courts in municipalities where there are no HOJs, as well as additional provision for supplies and materials for lower courts.

The APJR of the Court will likewise reap the benefits of the pending increase in the Judiciary’s budget. The increase will fund the continuing implementation of the APJR Projects which include the Justices on Wheels (JOW) Project and the Case Administration Management Information System (CAMIS).

The pending increase will also finance the establishment of an HOJ in Manila, and make it a “high-tech HOJ with internet cabling, data center, and modern communication facilities.” The proposed establishment aims to make the Manila HOJ a model HOJ for all future HOJs in the country.