[A.M. No. 01-9-249-MTCC.  May 28, 2002]

RE:  CONVERSION OF THE MUNICIPALITIES INTO COMPONENT CITIES

EN BANC

Gentlemen:

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of this Court dated MAY 28 2002.

A.M. No. 01-9-249-MTCC  (Re:  Conversion of the Municipalities of Bayawan, Negros Oriental and Bislig, Surigao del Sur into Component Cities.)

Pursuant to statute,[1] the following municipalities were converted into component cities, as follows:  Bayawan, Negros Oriental into Bayawan City; Bislig, Surigao del Sur into Bislig City, Tanauan, Batangas into Tanauan City, Masbate, Masbate into Masbate City; Muņoz, Nueva Ecija into Science City of Muņoz; Panabo, Davao del Norte into Panabo City; and Escalante, Negros Occidental into Escalante City.

Accordingly, this Court issued Resolutions dated November 12, 2001, November 14, 2001 and December 10, 2001 mandating the conversion of the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts/Municipal Trial Courts in the former municipalities into Municipal Trial Courts in Cities.

A study conducted by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) determined that the creation of twenty-eight (28) new positions, the conversion of fifty-six (56) existing positions, and the transfer of seven (7) positions should be undertaken so that the approved staffing patterns of the former Municipal Circuit Trial Courts/Municipal Trial Courts should conform to that of Municipal Trial Court in Cities.  A comparative staffing pattern of the two (2) courts establishes the disparity:

MTCC Single-Sala Court                                      MCTC/MTC Single-Sala Court

City Trial Court Judge                                               Municipal Trial Court Judge

Clerk of Court IV                                                        Clerk of Court II

Court Legal Researcher I

Interpreter II                                                                Interpreter I

Court Stenographer II                                               Court Stenographer I

Court Stenographer II                                               Court Stenographer I

Court Stenographer II                                               Court Stenographer I

Sheriff III

Cash Clerk III

Clerk IV                                                                      Clerk II

Clerk III

Process Server                                                         Jr. Process Server

Utility Worker I                                                           Utility Worker

The Court Administrator recommends that the following actions be taken:

(a) that twenty-eight (28) new positions be created, to wit:

No. of Positions                  Title                                                    Salary Grade

7                                  Court Legal Researcher I                             12

7                                  Sheriff III                                                          10

7                                  Cash Clerk III                                                 8

7                                  Clerk III                                                            6

(b) that fifty-six (56) positions be reclassified/converted:

No. of Positions                  Title                                                    Salary Grade

5                                  City Trial Court                                            27

                                                (Municipal Trial Court Judge)                      (26)

2                                  City Trial Court Judge                               27

                                                (Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge)          (26)

7                                  Clerk of Court IV                                         23

                                    (Clerk of Court II)                                           (18)

7                                  Interpreter II                                                  10

                                                (Interpreter I)                                                  (8)

21                                Court Stenographer II                               10

                                                (Court Stenographer I)                                  (8)

7                                  Clerk IV                                                         8

                                                (Clerk II)                                                          (4)

7                                  Process Server                                           5

                                                (Jr. Process Server)                                     (3)

(c) that seven (7) positions be transferred:

No. of Positions                  Title                                                    Salary Grade

7                                  Utility Worker I                                               1

The aforesaid findings of OCA appears to be well-taken.

Accordingly, the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator as contained in its Memorandum dated February 28, 2002, is hereby APPROVED.

Very truly yours,

LUZVIMINDA D. PUNO

Clerk of Court

(Sgd.) MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMA

Asst. Clerk of Court



[1] Republic Act Nos. 8983, 8804, 9005, 8807, 8977, 9015, and 9014.