Manila: The Supreme Court is pursuing reforms to address persistent problems in the justice system, including delays in case resolution, limited access to legal services, and concerns over accountability.
According to Philippines News Agency, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, in a recent meeting with the Justice Reform Initiative (JRI), led by its Chairperson Alexander Cabrera, noted the group's advocacy for the rule of law, accountability, and integrity in the justice system which, he said, is consistent with the SC's reform agenda under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI).
'Under the SPJI, the SC has pursued efficiency through its High-Performance Courts initiative, which uses a Performance Development Framework to identify causes of delay, measure court performance, and reduce backlogs in trial courts,' Gesmundo said in a news release on Monday.
The Court has also strengthened judicial independence and service delivery through the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act, a landmark law that reinforces the Judiciary's fiscal autonomy by ensuring its budget cannot be reduced below the previous year's allocation and guaranteeing its automatic and regular release.
He noted that the JRI has focused on long-standing challenges facing the justice system, including delays in resolving cases, limited access to justice, and public concerns about corruption and competence in the courts. Established in 2012, the JRI is a coalition of private-sector and civil-society organizations that advocates reforms in the administration of justice. It also conducts surveys and research on public and business-sector perceptions of the justice system.
The SC has also introduced eCourt PH, a unified case management system that allows digital filing and real-time case tracking across court levels. It also launched the Judiciary ePayment Solution, which enables litigants and lawyers to pay legal fees and court dues online. The SC is likewise pushing for the use of artificial intelligence to support legal research and routine court operations.
Meanwhile, for those who cannot afford legal representation, the high tribunal has implemented the Unified Legal Aid Service, which requires covered lawyers to render at least 60 hours of legal aid services every three years. 'These services may include representation before courts or quasi-judicial bodies, legal counseling, drafting of legal documents, developmental legal assistance, participation in legal outreach programs, and notarization of documents,' the SC said.
