2005 philja year-end coverphilja.judiciary.gov.ph/files/annual/2005_annual_report.pdfthe philja-san...

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PPPPPROGRAMSROGRAMSROGRAMSROGRAMSROGRAMS ANDANDANDANDAND S S S S SEMINARSEMINARSEMINARSEMINARSEMINARS...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I. REGULAR PROGRAMS

Pre-Judicature Program (PJP)

Orientation Seminar-Workshop for Newly Appointed Judges

Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program (RJCEP)

Orientation Seminar-Workshop for Court Personnel

II. SPECIAL FOCUS PROGRAMS

Ethics and Judicial Conduct

Special Areas of Concern

Court Technology

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Shari’a and Islamic Jurisprudence

III. CONVENTION-SEMINARS

IV.DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR COURT PERSONNEL

V. PROGRAM FOR QUASI-JUDICIAL AGENCIES

VI.PROFESSORIAL COMPETENCY PROGRAM

VII.DISCUSSION SESSION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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The 2005 Year-End ReportThe 2005 Year-End ReportThe 2005 Year-End ReportThe 2005 Year-End ReportThe 2005 Year-End Report

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SSSSSPECIALPECIALPECIALPECIALPECIAL P P P P PROJECTSROJECTSROJECTSROJECTSROJECTS.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROJECTS

Publication of an Environmental Law Training Manual

Greening the Judiciary (Development and Production of

Interactive Training Modules on Environment)

II. E-LEARNING PROJECTS

e-Learning Modules on Psychological Incapacity and

Electronic Evidence

e-Learning Modules on Remedial Law and Civil Law

III. CHIEF JUSTICE HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR.DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES

IV. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND

SHOWCASE ON JUDICIAL REFORMS

MMMMMEDIATIONEDIATIONEDIATIONEDIATIONEDIATION............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I. COURT-ANNEXED MEDIATION PROGRAM IN THE FIRST AND

SECOND LEVEL TRIAL COURTS

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee

II. APPEALS COURT MEDIATION PROJECT

III. JURIS PROJECT

JURIS - Design and Management Committee (DMC)

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ADR GADR GADR GADR GADR GRIEVANCERIEVANCERIEVANCERIEVANCERIEVANCE C C C C COMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEE...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

RRRRRESEARCHESEARCHESEARCHESEARCHESEARCH G G G G GROUPROUPROUPROUPROUP.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

IIIIINTERNATIONALNTERNATIONALNTERNATIONALNTERNATIONALNTERNATIONAL O O O O ORGANIZATIONSRGANIZATIONSRGANIZATIONSRGANIZATIONSRGANIZATIONS ANDANDANDANDAND C C C C COMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEE M M M M MEMBERSHIPSEMBERSHIPSEMBERSHIPSEMBERSHIPSEMBERSHIPS...................................

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR JUDICIAL TRAINING (IOJT)

ASIA PACIFIC JUDICIAL EDUCATORS FORUM (APJEF)

COMMITTEE ON GENDER RESPONSIVENESS IN THE JUDICIARY (CGRJ)

SUPREME COURT - TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP (TWG)ON THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR THE POOR PROJECT

COMMITTEE ON KNOWLEDGE SHARING

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE JUDICIAL REFORM PROGRAM

LLLLLINKAGESINKAGESINKAGESINKAGESINKAGES WITHWITHWITHWITHWITH P P P P PARTNERARTNERARTNERARTNERARTNER A A A A AGENCIESGENCIESGENCIESGENCIESGENCIES.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

VVVVVISITORSISITORSISITORSISITORSISITORS/D/D/D/D/DELEGATIONSELEGATIONSELEGATIONSELEGATIONSELEGATIONS TOTOTOTOTO P P P P PHILJAHILJAHILJAHILJAHILJA.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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PHILJA DPHILJA DPHILJA DPHILJA DPHILJA DEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENT C C C C CENTERENTERENTERENTERENTER, I, I, I, I, INCNCNCNCNC. (PDCI).............................. (PDCI).............................. (PDCI).............................. (PDCI).............................. (PDCI).............................

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PIOPIOPIOPIOPIOPJAPJAPJAPJAPJAPJPPJPPJPPJPPJPP L D TP L D TP L D TP L D TP L D T

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UNDP-GEF-SGPUNDP-GEF-SGPUNDP-GEF-SGPUNDP-GEF-SGPUNDP-GEF-SGP

UNICEFUNICEFUNICEFUNICEFUNICEFUP-NSRIUP-NSRIUP-NSRIUP-NSRIUP-NSRI

U SU SU SU SU SUS-AEPUS-AEPUS-AEPUS-AEPUS-AEP

USAIDUSAIDUSAIDUSAIDUSAID

Academic Affairs OfficeAmerican Bar Association - Asia Law

InitiativeAcademic CouncilAppeals Court MediationAlternative Dispute ResolutionAgrarian Justice Foundation, Inc.Adhikain Para Sa Karapatang Pambata -

Ateneo Human Rights CenterAdministrative MatterAsia Pacific Judicial Educators ForumAction Program on Judicial ReformBids and Awards CommitteeBoard of TrusteesCourt of AppealsCourt-Annexed MediationCase Flow ManagementCommittee on Gender Responsiveness in

the JudiciaryCommission on Human RightsCentral Intellectual Property and

International Trade CourtCommonwealth Judicial Education InstituteCommission on AuditCourt Stenographic Reporters Association

of the PhilippinesCourt of Tax AppealsDepartment of Agrarian ReformDivision Clerks of CourtDepartment of Environment and Natural

ResourcesDesign Management CommitteeDepartment of JusticeFirst Level Clerks of Court Association of

the PhilippinesGender and DevelopmentGovernment Service Insurance SystemHuman Resource DevelopmentInternational Organization for Judicial

TrainingInternational Visitor Program Philippines

Alumni Foundation, Inc.Judicial Dispute ResolutionJudicial Reforms OfficeJustice Reform Initiative SupportLegal Accountability and Dispute

ResolutionMindanao Economic Development CouncilMetropolitan and City Judges Association

of the PhilippinesMandatory Continuing Legal EducationMetropolitan Trial CourtManagement Information Systems OfficeMetropolitan Trial Court CitiesNational Bureau of InvestigationNational Judicial InstituteNon-Project Grant Assistance Counter

Value FundOffice of the Court AdministratorPhilippine Association of Court

EmployeesPhilippines-Australia Human

Resource Development FacilityPhilippine Ecumenical Action for

Community EmpowermentFoundation

PHILJA Development Center, Inc.Lao People’s Democratic RepublicPhilippine Judicial AcademyCollege of Public Health - National

Institute of Health - University ofthe Philippines Manila

Public Information OfficePhilippine Judges AssociationPre-Judicature ProgramPhilippine Long Distance Telephone,

Co.Philippine Mediation CenterPhilippine Mediation Center - Court of

AppealsProgram Management OfficeProgram Management Office -

Government of the PhilippinesPhilippine Trial Judges League, Inc.Republic ActRegional Judicial Career

Enhancement ProgramRule of Law EffectivenessResearch, Publications and Linkages

OfficeRegional Trial CourtSentro ng Alternatibong Lingap

PanligalSupreme CourtSupreme Court - Fiscal AutonomySupreme Court - Office of

Administrative ServicesSecurities and Exchange CommissionThe Asia FoundationTechnical Working GroupUnited Nations Development

ProgrammeUnited Nations Development

Programme-Global EnvironmentFacility-Small Grants Programme(UNDP-GEF-SGP)

United Nations Children’s FundUniversity of the Philippines -

National Science ResearchInstitute

United StatesUnited States - Asia Environmental

PartnershipUnited States Agency for

International Development

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PHILJA was abrim with high-profile activities in 2005.

The Lecture SeriesThe Lecture SeriesThe Lecture SeriesThe Lecture SeriesThe Lecture Series

Easily one of the major highlights of the good year was the holding of the Chief JusticeHilario G. Davide, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series which commenced with the FirstLecture on The Legal Profession in the Digital Age by retired Justice Jose C. Vitug andended, most appropriately, with the 12th Lecture on The State of the Judiciary, viawebcasting, by Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr., held a week prior to his officialretirement from the Supreme Court. The excellent lectures by local and internationaljurists and members of the Academe and international organizations were deliveredbefore a distinguished audience of respected members of the Bench and Bar.Noteworthy was the presence of law students and members of non-legal professions.Then Associate Justice Artemio V. Panganiban (now Chief Justice) described the seriesas an “intellectual feast,” a “cerebral presentation.”

The Commitment to Judicial EducationThe Commitment to Judicial EducationThe Commitment to Judicial EducationThe Commitment to Judicial EducationThe Commitment to Judicial Education

Nine (9) “distinguished personalities” walked through the different milestones of Philippinejudicial education, then and now, in the 9th lecture of the series.

Program offerings have evolved dynamically, responsive not only to meeting thedemands that the times require of the skills and knowledge expected of judges andcourt personnel, but actually providing for well thought-out curriculum development thatensures the upgrading of such skills and knowledge.

The 6The 6The 6The 6The 6THTHTHTHTH Plenary Assembly of the Corps of ProfessorsPlenary Assembly of the Corps of ProfessorsPlenary Assembly of the Corps of ProfessorsPlenary Assembly of the Corps of ProfessorsPlenary Assembly of the Corps of Professors

Also of special mention is this plenary assembly conducted by PHILJA in partnershipwith Canada’s National Judicial Institute (NJI) and participated in by forty-one (41)members of the Corps of Professors. The assembly provided Canadian and Filipinojudicial educators an avenue whereby to exchange experiences and views ondevelopments in judicial learning and judicial education, particularly with respect toparticipatory and interactive methods of judicial and skills-based education. PHILJAtakes heart and pardonable pride in its hard work through the years that elicited NJI’s

FROM THE CHANCELLOR’S DESK

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Executive Director Mr. George Thomson’s comment that the Academy is “one of theworld leaders in developing judicial education.”

The PHILJA-San Beda Graduate School of Law ConsortiumThe PHILJA-San Beda Graduate School of Law ConsortiumThe PHILJA-San Beda Graduate School of Law ConsortiumThe PHILJA-San Beda Graduate School of Law ConsortiumThe PHILJA-San Beda Graduate School of Law Consortium

This consortium provides an excellent opportunity for advanced education in the field ofjuridical science for judges and court personnel. PHILJA has endorsed 21 applicants tothe program. Judge Eduardo B. Peralta, Jr., Presiding Judge, Branch 17, of the RegionalTrial Court (RTC) of Manila graduated cum laude in Master of Laws, major inJurisprudence.

Eight (8) members of the Academic Council who teach at the San Beda GraduateSchool of Law, were admitted as Diplomates in Juridical Science, a formal academicrecognition of their distinction as jurists, professors and authors.

The Graduate School conferred on the Chancellor the high distinction of Doctorof Laws honoris causa in a special Academic Convocation.

Working For a Professional and Better Informed JudiciaryWorking For a Professional and Better Informed JudiciaryWorking For a Professional and Better Informed JudiciaryWorking For a Professional and Better Informed JudiciaryWorking For a Professional and Better Informed Judiciary

Judicial Education Days Conducted 303 days

Average Satisfaction Rate on Program Evaluations 97%

Number of Seminars/Workshops Conducted 110

Total Number of Participants Reached 14,586

Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Programs held 11

Orientation Seminar-Workshops forNewly Appointed Judges 4

Orientation Seminar-Workshops forNewly Appointed Clerks of Court 1

Newly Appointed Judges Trained 133

Pre-Judicature Programs Conducted 2

Number of Meetings of the Board of Trustees 5

Number of Meetings of the Academic Council 19

Number of Meetings of the Research Group 11

(with allowance forduplication)

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Core ProgramsCore ProgramsCore ProgramsCore ProgramsCore Programs

These continued to be held and provided high quality and relevant training for judgesand court personnel through Orientation Seminar-Workshops for newly appointed andincumbent Judges, the Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program (RJCEP) (Level4) for judges and clerks of court, and the 9th and 10th Pre-Judicature Programs for lawyersaspiring for judicial posts.

Profitability ratings for the PJP averaged 95.72% while the ten (10) RJCEPsconducted averaged 95.41%.

The four (4) Orientation seminar-workshops for newly appointed judges had asatisfaction rate of 99.07%.

The 1st Orientation Seminar-Workshop for newly appointed Clerks of Court andthe continuing legal education program for Court of Appeals Attorneys were alsoconducted. The former had a satisfaction rate of 100%, and the latter, 99.29%.

Special Focus ProgramsSpecial Focus ProgramsSpecial Focus ProgramsSpecial Focus ProgramsSpecial Focus Programs

These covered a wide range of highly topical sessions:

Symposium on Restorative Justice: A fairly recent development in the criminaljustice system, arguing for a more humanist approach in its goal to heal the wounds ofboth victim and offender and all others affected by the commission of the crime.

Seminar-Workshops on Strengthening Shari’a and Islamic Jurisprudence: Hailedfor their relevance to the peace process. A 5th activity centered on the Shari’a Indigenousand Local Justice System held in Cagayan de Oro City.

Roundtable Discussion/Seminars on Environmental Law: Held for an improvedand informed decision-making process on environmental issues before the courts, andensuring that there is no encroachment on environmental integrity. Courts thus selectedwere those in the Sierra Madre Region which is threatened by illegal logging, cyanideand dynamite fishing, indiscriminate hunting, and conversion of forests into other landuses. The courts in Cebu and Palawan, Panay and Negros Oriental have also beenincluded.


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Interactive training modules on the environment have also been provided in theEnvironmental Law Training Manual and Greening of the Judiciary for use as trainingtools in the conduct of environmental law seminars.

Forensic Technology Seminar in partnership with the University of the Philippines- Natural Sciences Research Institute (UP-NSRI) and the British Embassy: Thisunderscored the recognition by the Supreme Court of the value of DNA testing as ameans of identification technology with the objective of seeing to it that judges couldconfront DNA technology ably and well.

Seminar on Government Expenditures in collaboration with the Commission onAudit (COA) and Supreme Court - Office of Administrative Services (SC-OAS): Thisaimed to answer the felt need for a working knowledge of laws and rules on governmentexpenditures and property and supply management.

Seminar-Workshop on Basic Website Development: A highly technical activityconducted by the Management Information Systems Office (MISO) staff. This wasappreciated by all participants from different units of the Court.

Basic Computer Training for Sandiganbayan Justices (Modules 1 and 2): Heldpreparatory to the installation of a high-tech environment in the court. The programsreceived high “Excellent” ratings of 66.67% and 55.56%, respectively, aside from “VeryGood” ratings of 33.33% and 44.44%, respectively.

Seminars on Juvenile and Domestic Relations Justice (Advanced Level): In the4th seminar, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) cited PHILJA for its invaluablerole in the protection of children’s and women’s rights highlighting the Academy’semphasis on diversion, its designed programs on the Rule on the Examination of aChild Witness, and the law on violence against women and children.

Roundtable Discussion for the Bangko Sentral Hearing Officers: The CommercialLaw Department, headed by Dean Cesar Villanueva, spearheaded this activity. Theprogram received a 100% profitability rating.

RTD on Criminal Law, Anti-Terrorism and Evidence Gathering: Selected courtofficials and judges were invited to participate by the United States (US) Embassy.

Seminar for Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) Attorneys on Recent Developments inTax Laws and Jurisprudence: Although basically for CTA Court Attorneys, a profile showed

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a mixture of professions. This will ensure better collaboration among different governmentagencies involved in tax matters.

Roundtable Discussion on Anti-Trafficking in Persons: Held in cooperation withthe US Embassy upon its request, with a resource speaker from abroad. The objectiveis to de-list the Philippines from countries that do not comply with international standards.

Multi-Sectoral Workshop on Agrarian Justice: Held in collaboration with theAgrarian Justice Foundation, Inc. (AJFI) to increase sensitivity to the plight of thevulnerable sectors particularly farmers and farm workers. A participant lauded theworkshop for providing a venue for a dialogue between the different entities involved inagrarian reform. The workshop received a high “Excellent” rating of 48.75%, and 46.15%“Very Good.”

Personal Security Training for Judges: Resource persons were all experts fromthe National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). An actual target practice was integratedusing the NBI Firing Range facility. All judges-participants were able to fire around 40rounds each from a 9 mm. pistol and a 38 mm. revolver. Similar future initiatives areanticipated.

The Judicial PersonThe Judicial PersonThe Judicial PersonThe Judicial PersonThe Judicial Person

Values and Ethics were at the forefront of a series of seminar-workshops throughoutthe country to disseminate awareness on the Code of Conduct for the Judiciary and theCode of Conduct for Judicial Personnel. Discussion Sessions were held for the Justicesof the Court of Appeals in Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro City, the Sandiganbayan,and the Court of Tax Appeals. The Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Programs(RJCEPs) incorporated the Code of Conduct as an integral part of their sessions. Allthese are geared towards a reformed and strengthened judiciary that is worthy of publictrust and confidence by reason of its integrity and probity. In the evaluations submitted,participants found the series profitable and timely as it reminded them on how to performtheir duties and assume their responsibilities in the administration of justice.

The PHILJA Fax/Electronic Alerts, which give brief rulings on administrative casesfiled against judges and judicial personnel, have been published monthly. They areintended to assist personnel in confronting ethical dilemmas and avoiding pitfalls thatthey can easily fall prey to. The Alerts are included in the e-Library.


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Distance Education and e-LearningDistance Education and e-LearningDistance Education and e-LearningDistance Education and e-LearningDistance Education and e-Learning

We have embarked on the use of distance education towards the development of an e-Academy, i.e., the electronic or digital accessibility of the Academy, to complement theenhancement and continuation of present delivery methods.

The e-Learning pilot project had two (2) topics — Psychological Incapacity andElectronic Evidence. A survey of the participants showed both “strongly agreed” and“agreed” opinions that on-line learning is an effective educational tool.

Convention-Seminars of Judges and Court PersonnelConvention-Seminars of Judges and Court PersonnelConvention-Seminars of Judges and Court PersonnelConvention-Seminars of Judges and Court PersonnelConvention-Seminars of Judges and Court Personnel

The conventions of the Philippine Judges Association (PJA), the Metropolitan and CityCourt Judges Association of the Philippines (MeTCJAP), the Philippine Trial JudgesLeague, Inc. (PTJLI); the Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE); and CourtLibrarians, continued to include seminar components provided by the Academy,pursuant to Court issuances.

Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM), Appeals Court Mediation (ACM),Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM), Appeals Court Mediation (ACM),Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM), Appeals Court Mediation (ACM),Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM), Appeals Court Mediation (ACM),Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM), Appeals Court Mediation (ACM),and Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR)and Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR)and Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR)and Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR)and Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR)

The training and accreditation of court-annexed mediators continue to bevigorously pursued. Training of Trainers, internship activities, opening of new sites, asrequested by local government units and as recommended by PMCs, are sustained.Continuing orientation and re-orientation seminars on Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM)are held for both judges and lawyers alike. For its part, JURIS has been extremely busywith workshops on Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR), on Orientation Seminars, onexecutive meetings in its mediation program, and on Family Mediation.

The ADR Department has headed the institutionalization of Appeals CourtMediation (ACM). An ACM Center Unit has been established in the Court of Appealsand ninety-nine (99) cases have executed compromise agreements.

CAMCAMCAMCAMCAM ACMACMACMACMACM JDRJDRJDRJDRJDR

No. of Training Programs

Ave. Profitability Rating

12

98.63%

6

N/A

15

99.05%

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Evolving from all these are three (3) component units to Court-Annexed Mediation,namely, CAM, ACM, and JDR under the JURIS project.

Statistics show a success rate of 65% in the trial courts in CAM.

The Court authorized the holding of a Settlement Month in June, 2005, whichresulted in an overall success rate of 63% of cases that underwent mediation.

The JURIS project has launched additional model court sites in Baguio, La Union,Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental. CAM and JDR are being interfaced inCagayan de Oro. Of interest is the Baguio Advocacy Forum which included a culturalimmersion program on the life and culture of the indigenous people of the Cordilleras,and where the tribal leaders shared with JURIS their mediation structures and systemsas well as cases involving disputes among Igorot tribes.

LinkagesLinkagesLinkagesLinkagesLinkages

With the People’s Supreme Court and Southern Appellate Court of the Lao People’sDemocratic Republic (PDR): They were briefed on PHILJA and the ADR programparticularly Court-Annexed Mediation, Appellate Court Mediation, and JDR of JURIS.

With the Judges from the Supreme People’s Court of the Socialist Republic ofVietnam: They were briefed on the Caseflow Management (CFM) Project in Pasay City,the Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM) program, and given the opportunity to witnessactual mediation proceedings.

With the Chief Justice and two Justices of the Supreme Court of Guatemala:They visited the PMC Unit in Makati City and witnessed the full mediation processundertaken in a newly referred intra-corporate case.

For international exposure and experience: The Chancellor and SandiganbayanPresiding Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro participated in the internationalconference Judging Across Borders in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. TheChancellor also attended the Board of Governors Meeting of the InternationalOrganization for Judicial Training (IOJT) at Reno, Nevada. Commissioner Linda M.Hornilla represented the Academy at the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute(CJEI) Biennial Meeting at New Delhi and Bhopal, India.


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4th JURIS Study Tour to Canada: The members were Justice Jose L. Sabio ofthe Court of Appeals, Justice Diosdado M. Peralta of the Sandiganbayan, and DeanCesar L. Villanueva, Chairman of PHILJA’s Commercial Law Department. They submittedexcellent observations and recommendations relating to the strengthening of PHILJAprograms.

Academic DepartmentsAcademic DepartmentsAcademic DepartmentsAcademic DepartmentsAcademic Departments

A most welcome development was the creation of two (2) new academic departments,the Shari’a and Islamic Juriprudence Department, headed by Justice Jainal D. Rasul,and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Department headed by Chairman Alfredo F.Tadiar.

Appointments of OfficialsAppointments of OfficialsAppointments of OfficialsAppointments of OfficialsAppointments of Officials

In the 2nd Quarter, former Supreme Court Justice Justo P. Torres, Jr. joined PHILJA asits Vice Chancellor, while former Court of Appeals Justice Francisco S. Tantuico, Jr.was appointed Consultant. A Financial Management Manual, Justice Tantuico’s specialproject, is expected to improve financial transactions and compliance with accounting/auditing rules and procedures.

PublicationsPublicationsPublicationsPublicationsPublications

The PHILJA JUDICIAL JOURNAL and the PHILJA BULLETIN, continued to be releasedbi-annually and quarterly, respectively, and the FAX/ELECTRONIC ALERTS, monthly.The PHILJA WEBSITE is updated regularly for announcements and events reporting.

The Top PrizeThe Top PrizeThe Top PrizeThe Top PrizeThe Top Prize

What could be more rewarding as the year came to a close was PHILJA’s receipt of theofficial advice from the Department of Finance, through Secretary Margarito B. Teves,of the approval of the Non-Project Grant Assistance Countervalue Fund (NPGA-CVF)of Japan for the construction and equipping of the PHILJA Development Center inTagaytay City and, subsequently, the release for credit to the SC-PHILJA account ofthe amount of Three Hundred Million Pesos (Php300M) for the said project. Althoughthe amount was half of what was requested, we are thankful for the grant that would

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start the substantial improvement of PHILJA’s training facilities in Tagaytay City. It wasthe icing on PHILJA’s 2005 cake.

Looking ForwardLooking ForwardLooking ForwardLooking ForwardLooking Forward

The question remains: Where do we go from here? We look ahead at many morechallenges in the pursuit of our mandate as the education arm of the Judiciary. Thereare improvements and refinements to be made on existing programs and furtherstrengthening of projects already in place. But we must be wary against “making do”with routine procedures which may run counter to our aim at advancement. “As programsprogress, as curricula take definite shape, as courses attain permanence and stability,we must guard against the corrosive effects of routine, and the decadence ofunimaginative repetition.”

I am confident that my colleagues and fellow workers, specially the PHILJA Team,who are certainly forward-looking, will ably take up the challenge.

Our profound gratitude goes to all, including development partners, who havebeen instrumental in enabling PHILJA achieve.

AMEURFINA A. MELENCIO HERRERAAMEURFINA A. MELENCIO HERRERAAMEURFINA A. MELENCIO HERRERAAMEURFINA A. MELENCIO HERRERAAMEURFINA A. MELENCIO HERRERAChancellor



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(Effective June 15, 2004, per A.M. No. 01-1-04-SC-PHILJA, “Clarifying and Strengtheningthe Organizational Structure and Administrative Set-Up of the Philippine JudicialAcademy,” approved by the Court En Banc on February 24, 2004.)

OOOOORGANIZATIONALRGANIZATIONALRGANIZATIONALRGANIZATIONALRGANIZATIONAL

CCCCCH A R TH A R TH A R TH A R TH A R T

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART


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BBBBBOARDOARDOARDOARDOARD OFOFOFOFOF

TTTTTRUSTEESRUSTEESRUSTEESRUSTEESRUSTEES

BOARD OF TRUSTEES (BOT)

ChairmanChairmanChairmanChairmanChairmanChief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

Vice ChairmanVice ChairmanVice ChairmanVice ChairmanVice ChairmanJustice Reynato S. Puno

MembersMembersMembersMembersMembers

Recorder-SecretaryRecorder-SecretaryRecorder-SecretaryRecorder-SecretaryRecorder-SecretaryJudge Priscila S. Agana

Legend:Legend:Legend:Legend:Legend:

* On 10 March 2005, the Board welcomed Justice Romeo A. Brawner, new PresidingJustice of the Court of Appeals.

** On 10 March 2005, the Board welcomed Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-de Castro,new Presiding Justice of the SANDIGANBAYAN.

*** On 7 December 2005, the Board welcomed Presiding Justice Ernesto D. Acostaof the Court of Tax Appeals. His inclusion as member of the Board was approvedby the Court en banc following the passage of R.A. No. 9282 which expanded theCourt of Tax Appeals’ (CTA’s) jurisdiction and accorded its members the samerank and privileges as those of the Court of Appeals and SANDIGANBAYAN.Thereby, the CTA now falls within the intention and rationale of Section 5 of R.A.No. 8557 which includes representatives from all Court levels in the PHILJA Boardof Trustees.

**** Despite Judge Lee’s promotion as Presiding Judge of RTC Br. 83, Quezon City,he was allowed to remain as member of the Board until his replacement isappointed.

Justice Romeo A. Brawner*Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr.

Judge Romeo F. BarzaDean Andres D. Bautista

Justice Ameurfina A. Melencio HerreraJustice Teresita J. Leonardo-de Castro**

Justice Ernesto D. Acosta***Judge Ralph S. Lee****


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The Board of Trustees shapes the direction of the policies of PHILJA. This directionalfunction is discharged through the following:

1. Approval of the academic courses offered by PHILJA;

2. Approval of the members of its corps of professorial lecturers;

3. Approval of the criteria for the selection and admission of participantsto the Academy’s program; and

4. Administration and disbursement of all legacies, gifts and donationsto the Academy.

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The virtue of the cross membership of the Board of Trustees is self-evident. It isapparent that all levels of our court system are represented in the Board – from thelowest court to the highest court. The all important academe is represented by no lessthan the President of the Philippine Association of Law Schools. As constituted, theBoard ought to be well attuned to the needs of judges, and to address them immediately.Any mist of doubt on how well PHILJA is discharging its statutory task ought to bedispelled by the survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released on September30, 2004, showing that PHILJA received the highest rating of +73 on the performanceof judicial institutions.

Excerpts from the speech of Senior Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno delivered at The Ninth Lecture of the Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

Distinguished Lecture Series, “The Commitment to Judicial Education - APresentation,” on 29 September 2005, at the College Auditorium,

San Beda College, Mendiola, Manila.

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AAAAACADEMICCADEMICCADEMICCADEMICCADEMIC

CCCCCOUNCILOUNCILOUNCILOUNCILOUNCIL

DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSONS

ACADEMIC COUNCIL (AC)

Hon. Ameurfina A. Melencio HerreraChair

Dean Pacifico A. AgabinConstitutional Law

Hon. Oscar M. Herrera, Sr.Remedial Law

Hon. Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr.Court Management

Dean Cesar L. VillanuevaCommercial Law

Fr. Ranhilio C. AquinoJurisprudence andLegal Philosophy

Professor Sedfrey M. CandelariaSpecial Areas of Concern

Professor Alfredo F. TadiarAlternative Dispute Resolution

Hon. Ricardo C. Puno, Sr.Civil Law

Hon. Edilberto G. SandovalCriminal Law

Hon. Hilarion L. AquinoEthics and Judicial Conduct

Dr. Purificacion V. QuisumbingInternational Law and Human Rights

Professor Myrna S. FelicianoLegal Method and Research

Atty. Ivan John E. UyCourt Technology

Hon. Jainal D. RasulSharia and Islamic Jurisprudence


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The following are noteworthy resolutions passed by the Academic Council in 2005:

1. Resolution No. 02-2005 dated 23 February 2005

The Council adopted the recommendation of a Special Study Group it createdto deliberate on the resolutions of the Shari’a Law and Jurisprudence Committeeto convert the said committee to “Department of Shari’a and IslamicJurisprudence,”and the corresponding modification of the Court Resolution inA.M. No. 05-1-12-SC dated 01-18-05 converting the committee to a Department.

2. Resolution No. 04-2005 dated 9 March 2005

The Council adopted the proposal to create a Department of Alternative DisputeResolution (ADR) and to recommend the same to the Chief Justice and theSupreme Court through the Board of Trustees.

3. Resolution No. 09-2005 dated 3 August 2005

The Council resolved that guidelines on the conduct of future programs of theAcademy with external partners should be put in writing and clearly specify theperson/s or entity/ies responsible for administrative costs and expense allowancesof the assigned staff, without prejudice to the Academy’s policy to retainadministrative control over the planning and actual implementation of programs.

4. Resolution No. 11-2005 dated 16 November 2005

The Council resolved that the Selection Committee shall deliberate on thequalifications of nominees to the Corps of Professors and makerecommendations to the Academic Council, after these nominees have beennominated by the respective Academic Heads and assigned lectures by theAcademic Affairs Office, and have undergone performance evaluation. TheSelection Committee is principally tasked to ensure that only the most qualifiedare invited and designated as PHILJA Professorial Lecturers.

SIGNIFICANT RESOLUTIONS

OF THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL (AC)

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CCCCCORPSORPSORPSORPSORPS OFOFOFOFOF

PPPPPROFESSORSROFESSORSROFESSORSROFESSORSROFESSORS

CORPS OF PROFESSORS

Constitutional LawConstitutional LawConstitutional LawConstitutional LawConstitutional LawChair: Dean Pacifico A. AgabinVice Chair:Prof. Carmelo V. SisonMembers: 1. Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J.

2. Prof. Marvic F. LeonenSpecial Lecturer: Justice Reynato S. Puno

Civil LawCivil LawCivil LawCivil LawCivil LawChair: Justice Ricardo C. Puno, Sr.Vice Chair:Prof. Ruben F. BalaneMembers: 1. Judge Ed Vincent S. Albano

2. Dean Eduardo D. de los Angeles3. Justice Alicia V. Sempio-Diy

Special Lecturer: Justice Jose C. Vitug

Remedial LawRemedial LawRemedial LawRemedial LawRemedial LawChair: Justice Oscar M. Herrera, Sr.Members: 1. Justice Jose Y. Feria

2. Justice Nicolas P. Lapeña, Jr.3. Atty. Francisco Ed. Lim

Criminal LawCriminal LawCriminal LawCriminal LawCriminal LawChair: Justice Edilberto G. SandovalVice Chair:Justice Rodolfo G. PalattaoMember: Justice Diosdado M. PeraltaSpecial Lecturer: Justice Romeo J. Callejo, Sr.

Commercial LawCommercial LawCommercial LawCommercial LawCommercial LawChair: Dean Cesar L. VillanuevaMembers: 1. Judge Sixto C. Marella, Jr.

2. Atty. Hector A. Martinez3. Atty. Jose Claro S. Tesoro4. Atty. Jose Salvador Y. Mirasol

Part-time Professor IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer II

Professorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIPart-time Professor II

Professorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer I

Professorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer II

Professorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer I


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International and Human Rights LawInternational and Human Rights LawInternational and Human Rights LawInternational and Human Rights LawInternational and Human Rights LawChair: Dr. Purificacion V. QuisumbingVice Chair:Atty. Carlos P. Medina, Jr.Members: 1. Dean Raul C. Pangalangan

2. Atty. Rene V. Sarmiento3. Comm. Linda L. Malenab-Hornilla4. Atty. Amparita S. Sta. Maria

Special Lecturer: Justice Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez

Jurisprudence and Legal PhilosophyJurisprudence and Legal PhilosophyJurisprudence and Legal PhilosophyJurisprudence and Legal PhilosophyJurisprudence and Legal PhilosophyChair: Fr. Ranhilio C. Aquino, PhD, JurDrMembers: 1. Justice Camilo D. Quiason

2. Prof. Monserrat G. Babaran3. Atty. Pedro P. Perez, Jr.4. Atty. Emmanuel Q. Fernando5. Fr. Luis S. David, S.J.

Ethics and Judicial ConductEthics and Judicial ConductEthics and Judicial ConductEthics and Judicial ConductEthics and Judicial ConductChair: Justice Hilarion L. AquinoVice Chair: Justice Hector L. HofileñaMembers: 1. Justice Jose L. Sabio, Jr.

2. Justice Edgardo L. Cruz

Court ManagementCourt ManagementCourt ManagementCourt ManagementCourt ManagementChair: Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr.Vice Chair: Justice Ruben T. ReyesMembers: 1. Justice Roberto A. Barrios

2. DCA Jose P. Perez3. DCA Christopher O. Lock4. Justice Martin S. Villarama, Jr.

Legal Method and ResearchLegal Method and ResearchLegal Method and ResearchLegal Method and ResearchLegal Method and ResearchChair: Prof. Myrna S. FelicianoVice Chair: DCA Zenaida N. ElepañoMember: 1. Dean Merlin M. Magallona

2. Prof. Dante B. Gatmaytan

Professorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer II

Part-time Professor IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer I


Professorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IProfessorial Lecturer II

Professorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer I

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Special Areas of ConcernSpecial Areas of ConcernSpecial Areas of ConcernSpecial Areas of ConcernSpecial Areas of ConcernChair: Prof. Sedfrey M. CandelariaVice Chair: Justice Teresita Dy-Liacco FloresMembers: 1. Atty. Jose Maria A. Ochave

2. Prof. Melencio S. Sta. Maria, Jr.3. Prof. Angela P. Sarile4. Prof. Thelma L. Mendoza

Court TechnologyCourt TechnologyCourt TechnologyCourt TechnologyCourt TechnologyChair: Atty.Ivan John E. UyMember: Atty. Emmanuel L. Caparas

Alternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute ResolutionChair: Prof. Alfredo F. TadiarVice Chair:Dean Eduardo D. de los Angeles

Shari’a and Islamic JurisprudenceShari’a and Islamic JurisprudenceShari’a and Islamic JurisprudenceShari’a and Islamic JurisprudenceShari’a and Islamic JurisprudenceChair: Justice Jainal D. RasulVice Chair:Justice Omar U. AminMembers: 1. Justice Hakim S. Abdulwahid

2. Justice Japar B. DimaampaoResource Persons: 1. Justice Jose C. Vitug

2. Justice Alicia V. Sempio-Diy3. Dean Pacifico A. Agabin

PHILJA ProfessorsPHILJA ProfessorsPHILJA ProfessorsPHILJA ProfessorsPHILJA Professors1. Justice Jose C. Vitug2. Fr. Ranhilio C. Aquino, PhD, JurDr3. DCA Bernardo T. Ponferrada4. Prof. Sedfrey M. Candelaria5. Dean Eulogia M. Cueva6. Atty. Jose Maria A. Ochave7. Justice Alicia V. Sempio-Diy8. Dean Pacifico A. Agabin9. Judge Galicano A. Ariesgado10.Atty. Ma. Cristina M. Cabrera

Part-time Professor IIProfessorial Lecturer IIPart-time Professor IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer II

Professorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer I

Professorial Lecturer IIProfessorial Lecturer II


Part-time Professor IIPart-time Professor IIFull-time Professor IIPart-time Professor IIPart-time Professor IIPart-time Professor IIFull-time Professor IIPart-time Professor IIPart-time Professor IFull-time Professor I

CCCCCORPSORPSORPSORPSORPS OFOFOFOFOF

PPPPPROFESSORSROFESSORSROFESSORSROFESSORSROFESSORS


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Strengthening CurriculumStrengthening CurriculumStrengthening CurriculumStrengthening CurriculumStrengthening Curriculum

The Academy includes, in its curricula and programs, courses that address the latestdevelopments in substantive and procedural law. It also includes updates on technologyand their possible application in the courts as well as lectures on ethics and valueformation and other special issues or areas of concern such as problems of vulnerableand marginalized groups in society. Efforts on faculty enhancement and leadershiptrainings are also conducted.

The curriculum is improved in the following ways:

1. Feedback from judges-participants and their suggestions in regard to programcontent.

2. Analysis of international best practices, through dialogues with foreignprofessors and receipt of judicial education material from foreign jurisdictions.

3. The input of the members of the Academic Council.

4. Proposals advanced by the Academic Affairs Office to the Academic Council.

During the Faculty Development Workshop on Skills-Based Approach held inNovember 2005, under the auspices of PHILJA, in coordination with the National JudicialInstitute Canada (NJI) Justice Reform Initiative Support (JURIS) Project, severalcommittees were established composed of selected members of the Academy’s Corpsof Professors together with a representative of the Philippine Delegation during theStudy Tour in Canada. The committees formulated different modules that focus on“skills-based” approach on the areas of ethics, communication, gender sensitivity andcommercial law. These modules center on skills that need to be developed or enhancedby the judges and judicial personnel in the said areas. Learning objectives were alsodetermined alongside learning formats indicating the strategies to be used in order toimplement the objectives. Since then, the Academy has been implementing the “skills-based approach” in suitable sessions.

To meet the challenge of preparing our judges and judicial personnel in theproficient discharge of their respective duties and responsibilities for the attainment ofa Judiciary that is independent, effective and worthy of public trust and confidence,PHILJA conducted 110 academic training programs110 academic training programs110 academic training programs110 academic training programs110 academic training programs for Academic Year 2005 or anaverage of nine (9) programs per month. The year’s academic programs included the

PROGRAMS AND SEMINARS

PPPPPROGRAMSROGRAMSROGRAMSROGRAMSROGRAMS & & & & &SSSSSEMINARSEMINARSEMINARSEMINARSEMINARS


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International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms, the Study Tour ofdelegates from the Supreme Court of Vietnam and the following:

I.I.I.I.I. Regular ProgramsRegular ProgramsRegular ProgramsRegular ProgramsRegular Programs

A.A.A.A.A. Pre-Judicature Program (PJP)Pre-Judicature Program (PJP)Pre-Judicature Program (PJP)Pre-Judicature Program (PJP)Pre-Judicature Program (PJP)

The program provides initial training for aspirants to judicial positions, as mandated bythe Academy’s statutory and administrative charters. It is oriented towards a career inthe judiciary wherein aspirants are offered a judicial perspective on the law and introducesthem to skills, attitudes, values and conduct called for by their appointment to the Bench.

The sessions of the Program are not meant to repeat instruction on law schoolsubjects or Bar review materials. All subjects are approached from a judicial perspective– that is, the resolution of disputes by a judge. Academics contribute a more reflective,concept-based, philosophical approach to subjects that depart from the provision-centered learning in law school.

The completion of the program and obtaining a passing mark in the WrittenEvaluative Examination will entitle a graduate to a full credit of thirty-six (36) MCLE unitsfor the compliance period covered and fifteen (15) units towards the Master of Lawsdegree at the San Beda College Graduate School of Law upon favorable endorsementby the Chancellor.

PHILJA conducted two (2) Pre-Judicature Programs. The first one was held inDavao City, with forty-one (41) participants; the other was held in Manila, with twenty-eight (28) participants. Both programs had an average profitability rating of 99%.

B.B.B.B.B. Orientation Seminar-Workshop for Newly Appointed JudgesOrientation Seminar-Workshop for Newly Appointed JudgesOrientation Seminar-Workshop for Newly Appointed JudgesOrientation Seminar-Workshop for Newly Appointed JudgesOrientation Seminar-Workshop for Newly Appointed Judges

Upon appointment to the judiciary, a judge undergoes this program to prepare him forassumption of office and discharge of his duties. Immersion programs in the judges’respective work stations accompany these induction activities. Actual observation ofcourt trials by sitting in with an Executive Judge in the conduct of judicial proceedings isbeing done in order to familiarize a newly appointed judge with the skills of adjudicationand administration. Both programs are a prerequisite to the performance of judicialfunctions.

The program originally lasted for five (5) days but has since been expanded totwo (2) weeks in view of the reduced period for the Pre-Judicature Program. The

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Orientation Program addresses the following core areas: The Judicial Person that dealswith the values, attitude, behavior and outlook of a member of the Bench; Judicial Skillsthat introduces them to management and administrative skills as well as research,communication and decision-writing skills that the judicial office demands; and JudicialKnowledge that engages the participants in a more intense study of substantive andprocedural law from a judicial perspective.

Four (4) Orientation Seminar-Workshops were conducted by PHILJA with a total of 113newly appointed Judges as participants. Based on the results of the evaluation, theparticipants rated the programs favorably with a profitability rating of 97.07%.

C.C.C.C.C. Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program (RJCEP)Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program (RJCEP)Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program (RJCEP)Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program (RJCEP)Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program (RJCEP)

The program is intended for judges and judicial personnel who have been in the servicein the judiciary for some time. It aims to optimize the impact of the Academy’s programswhile cutting down on expenses by holding simultaneous sessions that address theconcerns of each group of judges-participants and selected judicial personnel.

Topics on ethics, recent developments and jurisprudence on substantive andprocedural law are discussed, as well as emerging issues and concerns in various fieldsof law with special focus on the skills required in the discharge of their respective dutiesand responsibilities. It is the Academy’s response to the necessity of continuing judicialeducation and the need to update judges and judicial personnel in the different areasof law.

The Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program is the principal means ofdelivering judicial education. Because the Academy takes the program directly to theregions themselves, we are able, at each round, to cover almost one hundred percent(100%) of all judges. We have thereby eliminated the root of a frequently aired complaintthat some judges, especially in far-flung areas, seldom have the opportunity to attendPHILJA’s programs.

The Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Programs Level 4, for Judges, Clerksof Court and Branch Clerks of Court were commenced during the first quarter of theyear. The New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary and the Code ofConduct for Court Personnel were introduced at eleven (11) RJCEP seminar-workshops.A total of 2,278 participants, 2,278 participants, 2,278 participants, 2,278 participants, 2,278 participants, composed of 854 (37%) judges and 1,424 (63%) courtpersonnel from nine (9) regions(9) regions(9) regions(9) regions(9) regions (Regions I, II, III, IV, V, VII, IX, X, XII) were trained bythe PHILJA.



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During the RJCEPs conducted, the results of the evaluation revealed that thelecturers, secretariat, subject matter discussed during the programs, venue, as well asthe programs in general, are among those rated favorably by the participants. However,methods/procedures, schedule of sessions, the program as an educational experience,as well as the format are ranked adversely. This means that the participants considerthe programs offered by the Academy as having a positive impact on them since theyfind effective the lecturers and the topics discussed despite problems with the format,methods and schedule of sessions. These concerns are being addressed by theAcademy through the inclusion of the “skills-based approach” in its modules and curriculato be implemented in its training programs.

The bar graph demonstrates the acceptability rating by the participantsfor the different aspects of the seminar component of RJCEPs for 2005.Data shows that in all aspects, the participants favored best the Choiceof Lecturers and rated least-favored the Format of the RJCEP.

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The chart shows the fluctuating profitability ratings of the RJCEPsconducted in 2005, (the last seminar was not included becauseevaluation was not given). The year started with a relatively lowprofitability rating but increased significantly upon holding of the nextseminar. An inflow of 90% and above was observed thereafter. Aremarkable 100% profitability rating was marked for the RJCEPconducted for judges and COCs of Region III Batch 2.

D.D.D.D.D. Orientation Seminar-Workshop for Court PersonnelOrientation Seminar-Workshop for Court PersonnelOrientation Seminar-Workshop for Court PersonnelOrientation Seminar-Workshop for Court PersonnelOrientation Seminar-Workshop for Court Personnel

1.1.1.1.1. Clerks of CourtClerks of CourtClerks of CourtClerks of CourtClerks of Court

The program is intended for clerks of court who have just been appointed to the judiciaryto prepare them for assumption of office and discharge of their duties. It aims to takeup with the Clerks of Court the latest administrative issuances of the Supreme Court aswell as other concerns of court management that the Academy, and the Supreme Courtas a whole, would like to pass on to them through a formal training program. It is alsobeing conducted to meet their professional enhancement needs in substitution for theMandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program from which they are exemptedby reason of their participation in PHILJA programs. The program was conceptualized



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during the sessions held with the Clerks of Court in the Regional Judicial CareerEnhancement Programs. This was pilot-tested last November at the PHILJADevelopment Center, Tagaytay City, with thirty-eight (38) participants who gave theprogram a profitability rating of 100%.

II.II.II.II.II. Special Focus ProgramsSpecial Focus ProgramsSpecial Focus ProgramsSpecial Focus ProgramsSpecial Focus Programs

The program caters to those judges specifically designated to handle specialized cases.It is thematic in nature, focusing on new rules and current trends, developments as wellas emerging issues on the different areas of law.

A.A.A.A.A. Ethics and Judicial ConductEthics and Judicial ConductEthics and Judicial ConductEthics and Judicial ConductEthics and Judicial Conduct

The Academy conducted fifteen (15) Orientation-Workshops on the Code of Conduct,with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),American Bar Association-Asia Law Initiative (ABA-ASIA) and the Program ManagementOffice (PMO), for 2,801 court personnel of the Court of Appeals (Manila, Cebu andCagayan De Oro), Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals and the provinces ofPampanga, Cebu and Cagayan De Oro, to familiarize the employees with the new Code.The participants were divided into groups wherein they identified situations and raisedethical issues in each hypothetical case presented during the workshop. Each groupappointed a rapporteur who reported to the plenary the consensus of the group forfeedback and critiquing.

Eventually, the Orientation-Workshop was consolidated with the Regional JudicialCareer Enhancement Programs to save on costs and maximize the attendance of courtpersonnel present during the seminar. The Academy is pleased to note that theparticipants found the workshops very profitable.

B.B.B.B.B. Special Areas of ConcernSpecial Areas of ConcernSpecial Areas of ConcernSpecial Areas of ConcernSpecial Areas of Concern

Aside from the Code of Conduct, PHILJA’s Special Focus Programs also featured specialareas of concern such as the Use of Forensic DNA Technology; Restorative Justice;Recent Developments in Tax Laws and Jurisprudence for Court of Tax AppealsAttorneys; Personal Security Training Orientation; Agrarian Law; Environmental Law;Juvenile Justice; Terrorism; and Trafficking of Persons. The topics were timely andappropriate as they addressed the needs of the participants.

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C.C.C.C.C. Court TechnologyCourt TechnologyCourt TechnologyCourt TechnologyCourt Technology

In view of the upcoming computerization program at the Sandiganbayan, PHILJAconducted two 2-day training programs for the Justices of the said Court, in coordinationwith The Asia Foundation (TAF), Rule of Law Effectiveness (ROLE) and the AmericanBar Association – Asia Law Initiative (ABA-Asia).

To accommodate the Justices’ limited availability, the training plan was dividedinto two (2) day modules covering varied topics as well as levels of detail.The two (2)modules were aimed to ensure that the officers of the court are sufficiently equippedwith the knowledge and skills in utilizing computer resources that will be made availableto them.

The first module was basically an overview of the different programs of thecomputer aimed at orienting the Justices on the functions of the various programs tohelp them decide which among these programs will be useful in the performance oftheir functions.

The second module aimed to train the Justices in the use of such programs thatwill aid them in their work, e.g. Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer and Computer-AidedLegal Research. The Justices gave each of the two (2) modules a profitability rating of100%.

D.D.D.D.D. Alternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute Resolution

PHILJA, through its Judicial Reforms Office, conducted a total of six (6) Basic Seminar-Workshops on Mediation; two (2) Orientation Conferences with Stakeholders on Court-Annexed Mediation; two (2) Orientation Seminar-Workshops on Mediation for Judgesand Lawyers; one (1) Symposium on Court -Annexed Mediation and Re-Accreditationof Mediators; and one (1) Re-Orientation Seminar for Court-Annexed Mediators of MetroManila, totalling to twelve (12) programs, all of which were given a profitability rating of99.43 % by the participants.

1.1.1.1.1. Basic Seminar-Workshop on MediationBasic Seminar-Workshop on MediationBasic Seminar-Workshop on MediationBasic Seminar-Workshop on MediationBasic Seminar-Workshop on Mediation

Recognizing the necessity to reinforce the present number of Mediators and strengthenthe mediation program in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, PHILJA trainedone hundred fifty-seven (157) additional mediators-trainees with seventy (70) in MetroManila; thirty-nine (39) in Cebu; and forty-eight (48) in Davao, all subject to the Mediation



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Recruitment and Selection Process. Of those trained, a total of ninety -four (94) additionalmediators coming from Metro Manila and Metro Cebu were accredited by the SupremeCourt, through A.M. No. 05-12-01 SC PHILJA dated 6 December 2005. The mediators-trainees from Metro Davao are still awaiting their accreditation.

2.2.2.2.2. Orientation Conference with Stakeholders on Court-Annexed MediationOrientation Conference with Stakeholders on Court-Annexed MediationOrientation Conference with Stakeholders on Court-Annexed MediationOrientation Conference with Stakeholders on Court-Annexed MediationOrientation Conference with Stakeholders on Court-Annexed Mediation

PHILJA conducted two (2) orientation conferences for stakeholders on court-annexedmediation. The objective of the said conference was to establish and promote mediationin an area by discussing the Overview on Court-Annexed Mediation, detailing thecoverage of cases, the procedures involved in mediation and progress of mediationnow being implemented in existing PMC areas. A total of one hundred ninety-six (196)stakeholders participated during the conference, one hundred one (101) of whom werefrom Tacloban City and ninety five (95) were from General Santos City. The stakeholderswere composed of people from the business sector, academe, NGOs, lawyers, judges,media personnel, employees from the private sector, employees from the Judiciary andother government agencies.

3.3.3.3.3. Orientation Seminar-Workshop on Mediation for Judges and LawyersOrientation Seminar-Workshop on Mediation for Judges and LawyersOrientation Seminar-Workshop on Mediation for Judges and LawyersOrientation Seminar-Workshop on Mediation for Judges and LawyersOrientation Seminar-Workshop on Mediation for Judges and Lawyers

The two-day seminar-workshop was designed to orient judges and lawyers aboutmediation and likewise encourage their active participation in the promotion and effectiveuse of mediation. Two (2) seminar-workshops have been conducted, the first beingheld in Tacloban City with one hundred fifty-nine (159) participants and the second inGeneral Santos City with fifty-five (55) participants.

4.4.4.4.4. Symposium on Court-Annexed Mediation and Re-Accreditation ofSymposium on Court-Annexed Mediation and Re-Accreditation ofSymposium on Court-Annexed Mediation and Re-Accreditation ofSymposium on Court-Annexed Mediation and Re-Accreditation ofSymposium on Court-Annexed Mediation and Re-Accreditation ofMediatorsMediatorsMediatorsMediatorsMediators

The symposium encouraged active participation of Executive Judges and PresidingJudges in the promotion and effective use of mediation as a tool in declogging courtdockets. Part of the program was the re-accreditation and oath taking of the first batchof Metro Manila Mediators.

5.5.5.5.5. Re-Orientation Seminar for Court-Annexed MediatorsRe-Orientation Seminar for Court-Annexed MediatorsRe-Orientation Seminar for Court-Annexed MediatorsRe-Orientation Seminar for Court-Annexed MediatorsRe-Orientation Seminar for Court-Annexed Mediators

This two-day activity was designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of sixty-one(61) Court-Annexed Mediators of Metro Manila as an Alternative Dispute ResolutionPractitioner in the Trial Courts. The Seminar was a pre-requisite to their re-accreditationand a refresher course for accredited Mediators.

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E.E.E.E.E. Shari’a and Islamic JurisprudenceShari’a and Islamic JurisprudenceShari’a and Islamic JurisprudenceShari’a and Islamic JurisprudenceShari’a and Islamic Jurisprudence

A series of Seminars on Strengthening the Shari’a Court System was conducted duringthe year aimed at identifying problems confronting the system as well as to determineways and means of strengthening the present Shari’a and Islamic Jurisprudence aspractised in Muslim areas. Each seminar also served as venue to propose solutionsand effective modes of familiarizing Muslims, especially Internally Displaced Persons,on Shari’a and Islamic Jurisprudence.



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III.III.III.III.III. Convention-SeminarsConvention-SeminarsConvention-SeminarsConvention-SeminarsConvention-Seminars

The program serves as a vehicle for learning experiences and opportunities gearedtowards the improvement of the quality of judicial service through the enhancement ofjudicial and managerial skills and knowledge as well as strengthening of work values.

By administrative rule, all national conventions of judges and court employeeshave an academic component and are usually conducted for one and a half days. Thisopportunity has been optimized by the Judicial Academy to make judicial educationaccessible to a wider group of judicial persons. Effective methodologies have had to bedeveloped to cope with a huge audience, but we are pleased to report that the academiccomponent of these convention-seminars have been met with enthusiastic acceptance.

A.A.A.A.A. JudgesJudgesJudgesJudgesJudges

Four (4) Convention-Seminars for Judges were conducted during the year by theAcademy and their respective associations representing the Regional Trial Courts, theFirst Level Trial Courts and the Women Judges. A total of 1,222 judges were coveredby said programs.

The seminar conducted in Manila by the Academy and the Philippine JudgesAssociation (PJA) trained 599 Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges focusing on the NewCode of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary, Legal Concept of Terrorism and itsimplication under International and Municipal Law as well as the Role of Judges in CourtAdministration. Demonstrations on e-Learning, e-Library and Caseflow Management(CFM) were also held.

The Academy and the Philippine Trial Judges League, Inc. (PTJLI) conducted itsconvention-seminar for 210 members in Cagayan de Oro City. Training was gearedtowards the orientation of its members on the New Code of Judicial Conduct for thePhilippine Judiciary, Crimes Under Special Laws and Temporary/Permanent ProtectionOrders. The Metropolitan and City Court Judges Association of the Philippines (MCJAP)held its convention-seminar in Makati City with 123 members benefiting from said training.The seminar was aimed at training the Metropolitan and City Court judges on the law onSexual Harassment and fundamentals of Judicial Security. Demonstrations on e-Learning, e-Library and Caseflow Management (CFM) were also conducted.

Two hundred ninety (290 ) lady Judges were trained during the Convention-Seminar conducted by the Academy and the Philippine Women Judges Association

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(PWJA) held in Manila which sought to familiarize its members with the Rule on ViolenceAgainst Women and their Children as well as the Battered Woman and Child Syndrome.

B.B.B.B.B. Court PersonnelCourt PersonnelCourt PersonnelCourt PersonnelCourt Personnel

1.1.1.1.1. Clerks of CourtClerks of CourtClerks of CourtClerks of CourtClerks of Court

The Academy conducted two (2) seminars for the clerks of court: one held in Guimarasfor the Regional Trial Courts, which focused on the Code of Conduct; while the otherwas held in Tagaytay City for the First Level Clerks of Court Association of the Philippines(FLECCAP). It also concentrated its curriculum on the Code of Conduct, Legal FeesAdministrative Cases involving the Clerks of Court and Administrative Matters. Bothsectors, with 574 participants, were given training on the law on Violence Against Womenand their Children with its implementing rules, and the law on Sexual Harassment andCourt Environment.

2.2.2.2.2. Court StenographersCourt StenographersCourt StenographersCourt StenographersCourt Stenographers

The Academy and the Court Stenographic Reporters Association of the Philippines(COSTRAPHIL) conducted its convention-seminar for 2,084 members held in Iloilo City.Training was geared towards the Code of Conduct and recent jurisprudence onadministrative cases.

3.3.3.3.3. SheriffsSheriffsSheriffsSheriffsSheriffs

Seven hundred eight (708) sheriffs were trained at a Convention-Seminar conductedby the Academy and their association (Sheriffs’ Confederation of the Philippines) heldin Lucena City. The seminar was aimed at training the sheriffs on the fundamentals ofthe Code of Conduct as well as recent decisions of the Supreme Court on AdministrativeCases.

4.4.4.4.4. Court EmployeesCourt EmployeesCourt EmployeesCourt EmployeesCourt Employees

The Academy and the Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE) trained 1,316court employees during their Convention-Seminar which sought to familiarize its memberswith the Code of Conduct and recent Supreme Court decisions on administrative cases.



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5.5.5.5.5. Court LibrariansCourt LibrariansCourt LibrariansCourt LibrariansCourt Librarians

Twenty-three (23) court librarians were given the benefit of training during theirconvention-seminar which focused on the Code of Conduct, recent jurisprudence andcirculars on court employees particularly court librarians, as well as classification andcataloguing as tools of legal research.

IV. Development Program for Court PersonnelIV. Development Program for Court PersonnelIV. Development Program for Court PersonnelIV. Development Program for Court PersonnelIV. Development Program for Court Personnel

The program provides continuing legal education and the need to enhance and updatejudicial personnel on the law, current jurisprudence and administrative policies, judicialtechniques and suggested remedies to problems in trial and procedure as well as tokeep abreast with the latest developments and trends on the different areas of the law.

A.A.A.A.A. Continuing Legal Education for Court AttorneysContinuing Legal Education for Court AttorneysContinuing Legal Education for Court AttorneysContinuing Legal Education for Court AttorneysContinuing Legal Education for Court Attorneys

To meet the professional enhancement needs of Court Attorneys of the Supreme Courtand Appellate Courts in substitution for the MCLE program requirement from whichthey are exempted by reason of their participation in PHILJA programs, PHILJAconducted three (3) seminars for the lawyers of the Court of Appeals totaling 152participants from Metro Manila and Cebu City. The participants gave the seminar a highprofitability rating of 98%. They found very helpful the presentations on the rules ofprocedure in cases involving Violence Against Women and their Children and thediscussions on such topics as Human Rights and Social Contexts, developments inCivil Law, Commercial Law, Constitutional Law and Appellate Procedures.

V. Program for Quasi-Judicial AgenciesV. Program for Quasi-Judicial AgenciesV. Program for Quasi-Judicial AgenciesV. Program for Quasi-Judicial AgenciesV. Program for Quasi-Judicial Agencies

The program is another manifestation of PHILJA’s commitment not only to thejudiciary but also to the continuing judicial education of officers and lawyers of quasi-judicial bodies pursuant to the Resolution of the Supreme Court En Banc in A.M. No.99-7-02-SC-PHILJA, dated 6 July 1999. The topics discussed are of particular interestand usefulness to the quasi-judicial agencies concerned. Participation in the saidprogram entitles the participant to credits in partial compliance with the MCLErequirements.

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PHILJA, in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, conducted aRoundtable Discussion for twenty-eight (28) Hearing Officers held in Antipolo City. Thediscussion concentrated on administrative procedures and developments injurisprudence relevant to their functions and responsibilities as Bangko Sentral HearingOfficers. The program earned a profitability rating of 100%.

VI.VI.VI.VI.VI. Professorial Competency ProgramProfessorial Competency ProgramProfessorial Competency ProgramProfessorial Competency ProgramProfessorial Competency Program

The program aims to enhance teaching capabilities to meet the needs of the judge-learner more adequately. It also apprises the participants on the principles ofprofessional and adult education geared towards increased efficiency in the delivery ofjudicial education.

There have been two (2) forms of professorial competency programs: Programson judicial education abroad which PHILJA professors attend, and in-house competency-enhancement programs organized by the Academic Affairs Office.

PHILJA, in coordination with the National Judicial Institute of Canada (NJI) JURISProject, held two (2) workshops focusing on new developments and emerging trends injudicial education as well as evaluation methodologies and the formulation of differentmodules that focused on “skills-based” approach in the areas of ethics, communication,gender sensitivity and commercial law. The programs were aimed at enhancing thecompetency of PHILJA’s faculty members specifically on the principles of professionaland adult education geared towards increased efficiency in the delivery of judicialeducation.

VII.VII.VII.VII.VII. Discussion SessionDiscussion SessionDiscussion SessionDiscussion SessionDiscussion Session

The program provides a venue for the members of the Appellate Courts to be apprisedof and to discuss recent developments and jurisprudence in the different areas of lawparticularly relevant to the discharge of their judicial functions.

There were five (5) Discussion Sessions conducted by the Academy with theassistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),American Bar Association - Asia Law Initiative (ABA-Asia) and the Program for thePhilippine Judiciary particularly for the Justices of the Court of Appeals (Manila, Cebuand Cagayan De Oro), Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals. A total of sixty-nine(69) Justices participated in said discussion sessions through an informative exchange


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of ideas between lecturers-facilitators and participants. The participants were alsofamiliarized with the salient provisions and developments on the New Code of JudicialConduct. Gray areas were identified and addressed. Attention was also given to problemareas while practical application was also considered especially with regard to the practiceof appellate courts. For each session, the participants were divided into groups whereinthey identify situations and raise ethical issues in each hypothetical problem presentedduring the session. Each group will appoint a rapporteur who will report to the plenarythe consensus of the group for feedback and critiquing. After the discussion, thelecturers-facilitators synthesize the proceedings.

Initiatives in the Pursuit of Excellence in the Judiciary throughInitiatives in the Pursuit of Excellence in the Judiciary throughInitiatives in the Pursuit of Excellence in the Judiciary throughInitiatives in the Pursuit of Excellence in the Judiciary throughInitiatives in the Pursuit of Excellence in the Judiciary throughJudicial EducationJudicial EducationJudicial EducationJudicial EducationJudicial Education

The quest for excellence and service is a challenge that is visible in the efforts of theAcademy to strengthen and improve its programs through manifest Planning Sessionsof the Academic Council held once a month, conduct of Training Needs Analysis (TNA)and evaluation of participants after every seminar. These are done in order to respondto the inputs of judges and judicial personnel themselves, as well as the faculty, tocontinuously determine and assess the need of the participants as well as focus on theareas of law that need to be enhanced and to keep pace with the latest trends in judicialeducation and international best practices.

Also, by asking the participants to evaluate the programs, we find out what worksand what does not. It is also a mechanism to find out the impact of the training programson the learning experience of the participants.

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IN CONSORTIUM WITH THE

SAN BEDA GRADUATE SCHOOL OF LAW

By virtue of Supreme Court En Banc Resolution in A.M. No. 04-3-15-SC-PHILJA, dated23 March 2004, the Philippine Judicial Academy entered into a consortium agreementwith the San Beda College Graduate School of Law wherein it will credit courses offeredby the Academy to incumbent members of the Bench and the Bar towards the conferralof a degree on Master of Laws major in Jurisprudence, provided that those who opt topursue the degree are endorsed by the Chancellor of the Academy based on theirperformance in the programs. A total number of fifteen (15) academic units from theAcademy may be credited by the Graduate School of Law for the purpose of completionof the Master of Laws program.

For 2005, the Academy endorsed twenty-one (21) applicants to the program,five (5) were RTC judges, seven (7) First Level Court judges, one (1) Clerk of Court, andeight (8) Pre-Judicature program graduates.

Students who enrolled in the previous semesters may now elect to follow one ofthe two (2) fields of specialization: Civil Law or Commercial Law. In either case, theymust enroll in the subjects of the relevant Institute. New students must have clearancefrom the Dean regarding the prerequisite subjects before they can enroll in either Institute.

Lawyers and law students who are not enrolled in the Graduate School mayenroll as auditors (non-credit) of either Institute, however, their participation will not becredited even if the auditing student later enrolls in the Graduate School of Law.

The Graduate School also offers classes in the cities of Cebu and Davao inorder to reach more students in the nearby provinces without having to travel to Manila.It has also expanded its offerings to include the Master of Science in Criminal JusticeAdministration Program which is also open to all court employees.

On February 16, 2005, San Beda College conferred on the Chancellor of thePhilippine Judicial Academy, Justice Ameurfina A. Melencio Herrera, the honorary degree“Doctor of Laws” in a Special Academic Convocation at which the Chief Justice, SupremeCourt justices and other justices of the appellate courts, including trial court judges,were in attendance.

The Board of Trustees of San Beda College has approved the recommendationof the Dean of the Graduate School of Law to confer the academic distinction “Diplomatein Juridical Science” on members of the Academic Council who are faculty members ofthe LL.M. program in an Academic Convocation held on October 4, 2005, namely: Justice

PHILJA-SPHILJA-SPHILJA-SPHILJA-SPHILJA-SANANANANAN B B B B BEDAEDAEDAEDAEDA

CCCCCONSORTIUMONSORTIUMONSORTIUMONSORTIUMONSORTIUM


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Jose C. Vitug, Justice Ricardo C. Puno, Sr., Justice Hilarion L. Aquino, Justice Oscar M.Herrera, Sr., Dr. Purificacion V. Quisumbing, Dr. Pacifico A. Agabin, Dean Cesar L.Villanueva and Professor Sedfrey M. Candelaria. This recognizes the legal scholarshipand expertise of the members of the Academic Council by a formal academic credentialand at the same time allows them the academic ascendancy they rightly deserve.

On the same occasion, the first graduation ceremony was held conferring thedegree Master of Laws major in Jurisprudence to Judge Eduardo B. Peralta, Jr., PresidingJudge, Regional Trial Court, Branch 17, Manila, in which he graduated cum laude.

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In September 2005, the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) completed two (2) projectson Environment, namely, (1) Development of an Environmental Law Training Manualand the (2) Development and Production of Interactive Training Modules on Environment.These projects were made possible through the generous support of the United StatesAgency for International Development (USAID), United States – Asia EnvironmentalPartnership (US-AEP), and The Asia Foundation (TAF).

The Environmental Law Training Manual and the Greening the Judiciary(Interactive Training Modules on Environment) will be used as training tools in the conductof environmental law seminars. These will guide judges in the effective resolution ofenvironmental law cases.

I.I.I.I.I. Development of an Environmental Law Training ManualDevelopment of an Environmental Law Training ManualDevelopment of an Environmental Law Training ManualDevelopment of an Environmental Law Training ManualDevelopment of an Environmental Law Training Manual

The development of an Environmental Law Training Manual is one of the componentsof the project entitled Building Court Capacity to Handle Environmental Law Casesthrough Curriculum Development.

The manual focused mainly on the state of the Philippine environment, lawscreated as a response to the state of the Philippine environment, role and participationof government implementing agencies/offices, remedies available to various groups,problems encountered in availing of the remedies, role of non-government organizations(NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs) and case studies relating to environment.

The writers of the manual were Justice Lucenito N. Tagle, Professor Sedfrey M.Candelaria, Professor Dante B. Gatmaytan, Attorney Antonio A. Oposa, Jr., and AttorneyMaria Generosa T. Mislang, who also served as the editor.

The manual will be distributed to all judges nationwide.

II. II. II. II. II. Greening the JudiciaryGreening the JudiciaryGreening the JudiciaryGreening the JudiciaryGreening the Judiciary (Development and Production of Inter- (Development and Production of Inter- (Development and Production of Inter- (Development and Production of Inter- (Development and Production of Inter-active Training Modules on Environment)active Training Modules on Environment)active Training Modules on Environment)active Training Modules on Environment)active Training Modules on Environment)

The Interactive Training Modules focused on the legal and non-legal aspects ofenvironmental protection. The modules covered were Basic Environmental ScienceConcepts, Understanding the Air We Breathe, Understanding the Water We Drink,Dangerous Climate Change, The Carbon Trading Game, An Introduction toEnvironmental Economics, and Environmental Legal Framework.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROJECTS

SSSSSPECIALPECIALPECIALPECIALPECIAL P P P P PROJECTSROJECTSROJECTSROJECTSROJECTS


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The group from the Ateneo de Manila University, headed by Dr. Maria AssuntaC. Cuyegkeng, designed the modules, converted them into an interactive form, andreproduced them in a CD format. Professor Sedfrey M. Candelaria served as the ProjectDirector and Editor of the module while Dr. Cuyegkeng acted as the Consultant. Thecontributors were Attorney Angela Consuelo Ibay, Father Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J.and Father Roberto C. Yap, S.J.

The CD, with its accompanying manual, will be distributed to selected judgesnationwide.

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I.I.I.I.I. Pilot-Testing of the Modules on Psychological Incapacity andPilot-Testing of the Modules on Psychological Incapacity andPilot-Testing of the Modules on Psychological Incapacity andPilot-Testing of the Modules on Psychological Incapacity andPilot-Testing of the Modules on Psychological Incapacity andElectronic EvidenceElectronic EvidenceElectronic EvidenceElectronic EvidenceElectronic Evidence

After its formal launching on December 1, 2004, the e-Learning modules on PsychologicalIncapacity and Electronic Evidence were pilot-tested on one hundred (100) judges permodule from First and Second Level Courts nationwide from December 1, 2004 toFebruary 28, 2005. Through this on-line distance learning program, judges learned aboutnew practices and jurisprudence relating to the Rule on Electronic Evidence andPsychological Incapacity in Marriage.

Feedback results showed a high rating of satisfaction on the module content,design, presentation and duration. Some judges and practitioners who were not part ofthe pilot-run also expressed interest in joining future programs and submitted requestsfor additional modules. All requests were collated to determine if there is a need to re-offer the two (2) courses.

One participant, Judge Evangeline C. Castillo-Marigomen, Metropolitan Trial Court(MeTC) Branch 43, Quezon City, expressed gratitude for the chance to participate inthe pilot-run and recommended that the e-Learning module be adopted for the MCLEprogram.

II. Modules on Civil Law and Remedial LawII. Modules on Civil Law and Remedial LawII. Modules on Civil Law and Remedial LawII. Modules on Civil Law and Remedial LawII. Modules on Civil Law and Remedial Law

As a follow-through project on the recently launched e-Learning Pilot Project for theJudiciary with Modules on Electronic Evidence and Psychological Incapacity, theAcademy, in partnership with The Asia Foundation (TAF), began working on the

E-LEARNING PROJECTS



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production of two (2) new e-Learning modules on (1) Remedial Law, particularly onInvestigation, Arrests, Search and Seizures and (2) The Developing Jurisprudence inCivil Law.

This project will be conducted for a period of one (1) year with two hundred (200)judges having computer and internet facility nationwide as participants. PHILJA assignedAtty. Ivan John E. Uy to be the Project Director, with Justice Oscar M. Herrera, Sr. andJustice Jose C. Vitug as Module Developers and Mentors for the modules on theInvestigation, Arrests, Search and Seizures in Remedial Law and The DevelopingJurisprudence in Civil Law, respectively.

The Academy chose the two (2) e-Learning modules after a current needsassessment of the judges who wanted to be informed and updated on these topics.

TAF tapped the services of Go Vida as the IT consultant who will take charge ofthe learning management system, portal creation, and administration of the e-Learningmodules. Go Vida will work closely with the Project Director and Module Developerspertaining to the modules content, presentation, and design.

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CHIEF JUSTICE HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR.DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES

To mark the valedictory year of the Honorable Hilario G. Davide, Jr. as Chief Justice ofthe Philippines, the Supreme Court, through the Philippine Judicial Academy, organizedtheChief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series.Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series.Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series.Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series.Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series.

The activity featured a series of lectures held monthly either at the SupremeCourt Session Hall or at different law schools within Metro Manila. Outstanding jurists,foreign and local, have been invited to address an audience of Philippine jurists, lawacademics, representatives of the business sector and other non-governmentalorganizations.

The lecture series covered various topics that highlighted judicial reforms, recentlegal trends and issues, as well as Chief Justice Davide’s legacies both in and out of theJudiciary.

Lectures held.

First Lecture:First Lecture:First Lecture:First Lecture:First Lecture:

The Legal Profession in the Digital AgeThe Legal Profession in the Digital AgeThe Legal Profession in the Digital AgeThe Legal Profession in the Digital AgeThe Legal Profession in the Digital Age by Justice Jose C. Vitug, PHILJAProfessor, on February 9, 2005, at the San Beda College, Mendiola, Manila.

Second Lecture:Second Lecture:Second Lecture:Second Lecture:Second Lecture:

Legislative Investigations and the Right to PrivacyLegislative Investigations and the Right to PrivacyLegislative Investigations and the Right to PrivacyLegislative Investigations and the Right to PrivacyLegislative Investigations and the Right to Privacy by Justice Reynato S.Puno, Supreme Court Associate Justice, on February 28, 2005, at the Universityof the Philippines College of Law, Diliman, Quezon City.

Third Lecture:Third Lecture:Third Lecture:Third Lecture:Third Lecture:

Hilario G. Davide, Jr.: A Study in Judicial Philosophy (TransformativeHilario G. Davide, Jr.: A Study in Judicial Philosophy (TransformativeHilario G. Davide, Jr.: A Study in Judicial Philosophy (TransformativeHilario G. Davide, Jr.: A Study in Judicial Philosophy (TransformativeHilario G. Davide, Jr.: A Study in Judicial Philosophy (TransformativePolitics and Judicial Activism)Politics and Judicial Activism)Politics and Judicial Activism)Politics and Judicial Activism)Politics and Judicial Activism) by Dean Raul C. Pangalangan, University ofthe Philippines College of Law, on March 30, 2005, at the De La Salle University,Manila.

Fourth Lecture:Fourth Lecture:Fourth Lecture:Fourth Lecture:Fourth Lecture:

International Human Rights Law and Domestic EnforcementInternational Human Rights Law and Domestic EnforcementInternational Human Rights Law and Domestic EnforcementInternational Human Rights Law and Domestic EnforcementInternational Human Rights Law and Domestic Enforcement by JusticeMichael Donald Kirby, High Court of Australia, on April 15, 2005, at the SupremeCourt Session Hall, Manila.



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Fifth Lecture:Fifth Lecture:Fifth Lecture:Fifth Lecture:Fifth Lecture:

Judicial Reforms in Guatemala Judicial Reforms in Guatemala Judicial Reforms in Guatemala Judicial Reforms in Guatemala Judicial Reforms in Guatemala by Chief Justice Rodolfo de Leon Molina,Supreme Court of Guatemala, on April 27, 2005, at the Supreme Court SessionHall, Manila.

Sixth Lecture:Sixth Lecture:Sixth Lecture:Sixth Lecture:Sixth Lecture:

Contributions of Chief Justice DavideContributions of Chief Justice DavideContributions of Chief Justice DavideContributions of Chief Justice DavideContributions of Chief Justice Davide in the Writing of the Constitutionin the Writing of the Constitutionin the Writing of the Constitutionin the Writing of the Constitutionin the Writing of the Constitutionby Father Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J., Dean Emeritus, Ateneo Law School, on June15, 2005, at the Ateneo Professional School, Makati City.

Seventh Lecture:Seventh Lecture:Seventh Lecture:Seventh Lecture:Seventh Lecture:

Maintaining Public Faith and Confidence in the JudiciaryMaintaining Public Faith and Confidence in the JudiciaryMaintaining Public Faith and Confidence in the JudiciaryMaintaining Public Faith and Confidence in the JudiciaryMaintaining Public Faith and Confidence in the Judiciary by HonorableJovito R. Salonga, former Senate President, on July 28, 2005, at the Universityof Santo Tomas, España, Manila.

Eighth Lecture:Eighth Lecture:Eighth Lecture:Eighth Lecture:Eighth Lecture:

Judicial Reforms – Issues to ConsiderJudicial Reforms – Issues to ConsiderJudicial Reforms – Issues to ConsiderJudicial Reforms – Issues to ConsiderJudicial Reforms – Issues to Consider by Mr. Anthony G. Toft, Chief Counsel,East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank, on August 24, 2005, at the Lyceumof the Philippines, Intramuros, Manila.

Ninth Lecture:Ninth Lecture:Ninth Lecture:Ninth Lecture:Ninth Lecture:

TheTheTheTheThe Commitment to Judicial Education – A PresentationCommitment to Judicial Education – A PresentationCommitment to Judicial Education – A PresentationCommitment to Judicial Education – A PresentationCommitment to Judicial Education – A Presentation by the PhilippineJudicial Academy, on September 29, 2005, at the San Beda College Auditorium,Mendiola, Manila.

Tenth Lecture:Tenth Lecture:Tenth Lecture:Tenth Lecture:Tenth Lecture:

TheTheTheTheThe Totality of Reforms for a Transformed JudiciaryTotality of Reforms for a Transformed JudiciaryTotality of Reforms for a Transformed JudiciaryTotality of Reforms for a Transformed JudiciaryTotality of Reforms for a Transformed Judiciary by Justice ArtemioV. Panganiban, Supreme Court Associate Justice, on October 19, 2005, at theFar Eastern University, Manila.

Eleventh Lecture:Eleventh Lecture:Eleventh Lecture:Eleventh Lecture:Eleventh Lecture:

Challenges to Procedural Reforms – A Panel DiscussionChallenges to Procedural Reforms – A Panel DiscussionChallenges to Procedural Reforms – A Panel DiscussionChallenges to Procedural Reforms – A Panel DiscussionChallenges to Procedural Reforms – A Panel Discussion with JusticeLeonardo A. Quisumbing, Supreme Court Associate Justice, as the PanelChairman. The Panel Members were Justice Oscar M. Herrera, Sr., Chair, PHILJARemedial Law; Justice Regalado E. Maambong, Court of Appeals AssociateJustice; Dean Eduardo D. de los Angeles, PHILJA Professorial Lecturer; andProfessor Marvic F. Leonen, Member, PHILJA Department of Constitutional Law,on November 23, 2005, at the Arellano University Law School, Pasay City.

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Twelfth Lecture:Twelfth Lecture:Twelfth Lecture:Twelfth Lecture:Twelfth Lecture:

The State of the Judiciary The State of the Judiciary The State of the Judiciary The State of the Judiciary The State of the Judiciary (with Web casting) by Chief Justice Hilario G.Davide, Jr., on December 13, 2005, at the Supreme Court Session Hall, Manila.



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PHILJA participated in the International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reformswhich was hosted by the Supreme Court of the Philippines and held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City on 28 to 30 November 2005. PHILJA made a presentationhighlighting Alternative Dispute Resolution, a program spearheaded by the Academy.

The Public Information Office (PIO), the Program Management Office (PMO),the Management Information System Office (MISO) and PHILJA represented thePhilippine Judiciary in a Showcase that featured exhibits of Judicial Reform Projectsfrom different countries.

An interactive computer presentation of the Academy and its programs was themain attraction of PHILJA’s exhibit. The Academic Affairs Office (AAO), the JudicialReforms Office (JRO) and the Research, Publications, and Linkages Offices (RPLO) ofthe PHILJA also showcased their activities and programs in their exhibits. PHILJApublications and materials were distributed to delegates and guests of the Conference.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND

SHOWCASE ON JUDICIAL REFORMS



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COURT-ANNEXED MEDIATION (CAM) PROJECT

IN THE FIRST AND SECOND LEVEL TRIAL COURTS

MMMMMEDIATIONEDIATIONEDIATIONEDIATIONEDIATION

I. The Judicial Reforms Office (JRO)I. The Judicial Reforms Office (JRO)I. The Judicial Reforms Office (JRO)I. The Judicial Reforms Office (JRO)I. The Judicial Reforms Office (JRO)

PHILJA implements the Court -Annexed Mediation Program and supervises the PhilippineMediation Center (PMC) units through its Judicial Reforms Office (JRO). Formerly an adhoc office, the Court recently approved the Reorganization Plan of PHILJA whichincluded the creation of the Judicial Reforms Office and the provision for AssistantChancellor (Head of JRO) and thirty (39) staff complement. Implementation of theapproved Reorganization Plan will greatly enhance the operations of JRO and the PMC.

Pending implementation of the newly approved JRO plantilla, the Court hasapproved the hiring of nine (9) of the JRO Contractuals for a term of six (6) monthsrenewable. These contractuals have greatly enhanced the existing staff complementof JRO and is now helping out in the operation of the court-annexed mediation program.

A. Strengthening the Collection of the Mediation FundA. Strengthening the Collection of the Mediation FundA. Strengthening the Collection of the Mediation FundA. Strengthening the Collection of the Mediation FundA. Strengthening the Collection of the Mediation Fund(Sec. 9, Rule 141)(Sec. 9, Rule 141)(Sec. 9, Rule 141)(Sec. 9, Rule 141)(Sec. 9, Rule 141)

PHILJA, in its effort to strengthen the collection of Mediation Fees, recently achievedthe approval of two major Guidelines on the Mediation Fund i.e., a) Guidelines forCollecting Mediation Fees under Sec. 9 of the Revised Rule 141; and, b) ImplementingGuidelines for the Utilization and Disbursement of the Mediation Fund Provided for InSection 9 of the Revised Rule 141 of the Rules of Court on Legal Fees.

Aside from these, PHILJA is also working on the approval of the Mediation Primer,Official Receipts and Cash Book. The topic on the Updates on the Mediation Fees/Fund has also been included in various PHILJA academic programs for Judges andcourt personnel, and in all PHILJA mediation seminars.

B.B.B.B.B. Expansion Program of CAM and Recruitment and Training ofExpansion Program of CAM and Recruitment and Training ofExpansion Program of CAM and Recruitment and Training ofExpansion Program of CAM and Recruitment and Training ofExpansion Program of CAM and Recruitment and Training ofAdditional MediatorsAdditional MediatorsAdditional MediatorsAdditional MediatorsAdditional Mediators

In line with the strengthening and expansion program of court-annexed mediation, two(2) mediation units were established in Tacloban City and two (2) in General Santos Citytotaling four (4) additional mediation units.

For effectiveness and efficiency of mandate and service, a total of one hundredeighteen (118) mediators-trainees, fifty (50) of whom came from Tacloban City and sixty-eight (68) from General Santos City, were recruited and trained. The Supreme Courtaccredited thirty-seven (37) mediators from Tacloban City and forty-three (43) mediatorsfrom General Santos City, thru A.M. No. 01-10-5-SC PHILJA dated 31 January 2006.


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C. Settlement Period for the Months of June to JulyC. Settlement Period for the Months of June to JulyC. Settlement Period for the Months of June to JulyC. Settlement Period for the Months of June to JulyC. Settlement Period for the Months of June to July

Through Administrative Order no. 59-2005, the Supreme Court declared the whole monthof June as Settlement Period for the Cities of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and MetroDavao, Bacolod and adjacent cities, San Fernando, Pampanga and adjacent cities andareas where PMC units are established.

In preparation for the Settlement Period, the Judicial Reforms Office conductedan advocacy forum with the Executive Judges, Judges, Branch Clerks of Court andMediators of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao and other PMC areas.

Table 1 shows the statistical report during the Settlement Period.

D. Quarterly Procurement of Supplies for the PMCD. Quarterly Procurement of Supplies for the PMCD. Quarterly Procurement of Supplies for the PMCD. Quarterly Procurement of Supplies for the PMCD. Quarterly Procurement of Supplies for the PMC

The Judicial Reforms Office, in coordination with the SC Procurement Committee andProperty Division, has been regularly procuring office supplies for the PMC units and itsoperation.

The PMC supplies and forms have been distributed to all units nationwide. It hasalso submitted its Procurement Plan for 2006 to the PHILJA Administrative Office forthe Annual Procurement Plan for 2006.

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E.E.E.E.E. Purchase of Thirty-Five (35) Sets of PMC Computers and PrintersPurchase of Thirty-Five (35) Sets of PMC Computers and PrintersPurchase of Thirty-Five (35) Sets of PMC Computers and PrintersPurchase of Thirty-Five (35) Sets of PMC Computers and PrintersPurchase of Thirty-Five (35) Sets of PMC Computers and Printers

Chief Justice Davide approved the purchase of thirty-five (35) sets of PMC computersand printers. The purchase of these computers aims to improve the operation of existingPMC Units nationwide. Deliveries of these computers will be made within 2006.

II. PHILJA PMC MediatorsII. PHILJA PMC MediatorsII. PHILJA PMC MediatorsII. PHILJA PMC MediatorsII. PHILJA PMC Mediators

There are a total of four hundred eighty-six (486) Mediators distributed among thirty-two (32) Philippine Mediation Center units nationwide. The accreditation of forty-eight(48) Mediator trainees in Davao will certainly contribute to the strengthening andexpansion of the court-annexed mediation program.

III. The ADR CommitteeIII. The ADR CommitteeIII. The ADR CommitteeIII. The ADR CommitteeIII. The ADR Committee

The ADR Committee is the PHILJA body in charge of the formulation of policies andprocedures for court-annexed mediation programs of the Academy. It has producedthe following Resolutions for Court-Annexed Mediation and the operation of the PhilippineMediation Center for the year 2005.



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ADR ResolutionsADR ResolutionsADR ResolutionsADR ResolutionsADR Resolutions

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IV. Projects Undertaken in 2005IV. Projects Undertaken in 2005IV. Projects Undertaken in 2005IV. Projects Undertaken in 2005IV. Projects Undertaken in 2005

A.A.A.A.A. Integration of CAM, JURIS and ACM Programs and SeminarsIntegration of CAM, JURIS and ACM Programs and SeminarsIntegration of CAM, JURIS and ACM Programs and SeminarsIntegration of CAM, JURIS and ACM Programs and SeminarsIntegration of CAM, JURIS and ACM Programs and Seminars

Funded by The Asia Foundation (TAF) and the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID), the Institute for Social Studies and Action (ISSA) owned andmanaged by Chairman Alfredo F. Tadiar, was the recipient of the grant to formulateintegrated programs and curricula for Court-Annexed Mediation, Justice ReformsInitiative Support (JURIS) Project, and Appeals Court Mediation (ACM) Project. Theproject will formulate integrated programs for the training of mediators, judges, lawyersand court personnel.

B.B.B.B.B. PMC StudyPMC StudyPMC StudyPMC StudyPMC Study

TAF and USAID have released a grant to CPRM, to study the Financial andAdministrative Structure of the Philippine Mediation Center and the Court-Annexedmediation program and to formulate a feasible structural and financial design therefor.

C. Communication Program for CAMC. Communication Program for CAMC. Communication Program for CAMC. Communication Program for CAMC. Communication Program for CAM

In November 2005, TAF and USAID have released a grant to the Asian Institute ofJournalism (AIJC) to develop a communication program to effectively promote PHILJA’scourt-annexed mediation program nationwide.

D. Computerization of CAM ProgramD. Computerization of CAM ProgramD. Computerization of CAM ProgramD. Computerization of CAM ProgramD. Computerization of CAM Program

PHILJA, in coordination with TAF and USAID, conducted consultation meetings withInformation Technology (IT) experts in order to formulate an IT program for CAM.

In the meantime, JRO has been improving its database for its mediators in orderto enhance the 201 file of Mediators while continuously coordinating with programmersof the SC Management and Information System (MISO) to come up with a program tostreamline the PMC operation and to keep track of mediators’ performance and claims.



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V. Statistical Report of the Philippine Mediation CenterV. Statistical Report of the Philippine Mediation CenterV. Statistical Report of the Philippine Mediation CenterV. Statistical Report of the Philippine Mediation CenterV. Statistical Report of the Philippine Mediation Centerfor the Year 2005for the Year 2005for the Year 2005for the Year 2005for the Year 2005

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The Academy, with the assistance of the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) under the Legal Accountability and Dispute Resolution (LADR),strategically embarked on a project that seeks to expand its capacity to developmediators for the Court of Appeals (CA).

The first phase of the project, which was completed in January 2005,accomplished the following:

1. The selection and training of twenty (20) faculty-trainers;

2. Revision and filipinization of the training curriculum;

3. The development of new case materials for training mediators that are suitablefor the Philippine setting; and

4. The recruitment and training of fifty (50) Court of Appeals Mediators.

On 11 March 2005, a Letter of Agreement was signed between The AsiaFoundation and the Philippine Judicial Academy confirming a second grant to enablethe Academy to carry out the second phase of the Appeals Court Mediation (ACM)Project.

The specific objective of the second phase is to enhance the capacity of thePhilippine Mediation Center - Court of Appeals (PMC-CA) to provide high quality serviceto litigants who have accepted CA mediation by establishing adequate office facilitiesthat conduce settlement; ensuring the availability of enough competent and skilled CAmediators earlier trained under the first phase; and putting in place workable and efficientsystems and procedures for diversion to mediation.

In the latter part of March 2005, the PMC-CA office was established. It has fourmediation rooms, with a space for the secretariat, equipped with a computer, printer,and filing cabinets.

Preparatory meetings with CA Justices, Division Clerks of Court and other relevantCA personnel were conducted to secure their cooperation and support for theimplementation of the second phase of the Project relative to the Internship of Newly-Trained Mediators. Specifically, the meetings were designed:

1. To give a background of the Appeals Court Mediation Project and the resultsof the Pilot Testing;

APPEALS COURT MEDIATION (ACM) PROJECT



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2. To discuss the Guidelines for Prioritization of selection of cases for theSettlement Month;

3. To present and discuss the Mediation Flow for the Internship Program; and

4. To obtain feedback and ideas for the improvement of the Project.

Based on the guidelines for the selection of cases, each Court of Appeals Justicewas required to select twenty (20) cases for mediation totaling sixty (60) cases per CAdivision, or a total of 1,020 cases for all 17 divisions in Metro Manila. To date, the PMC-CA has already exceeded the number of cases required by the Guidelines.

In April 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding was entered into between theAppeals Court Mediation Project and the University of the Philippines Office of LegalAid (UP-OLA) to enlist the assistance of U.P. law interns in the selection and preparationof case briefs of mediatable cases. Two (2) batches of law interns were assigned toassist the Project team. Briefing and orientation of the law interns were conducted on12 May 2005 for the first batch and on 23 June 2005 for the second batch, to orient thelaw interns on (a) their role in the Appeals Court Mediation Project, and (b) a multi-doorjustice system not focused alone on the judicial door. Selection and preparation of casebriefs ensued.

A briefing for Newly Trained Mediators in the Appellate Court was conducted to(1) apprise the mediators on their Internship Program as part of the process for theireventual accreditation by the Supreme Court; (2) show the importance of the Project inunclogging court dockets and the significant role the mediators play therein; and (3)emphasize the need to utilize neutral evaluation especially for retired Justices and Judgestrained in evaluating evidence, in addition to their mediation skills.

In June 2005, parties whose cases have been selected for mediation were sentNotices to Appear before the Philippine Mediation Center and the Division Clerks ofCourt. A Primer for Division Clerks of Court (DCCs) was developed by the Project Team,to guide the DCCs in persuading the parties who appear before them to agree to havetheir case resolved by mediation. A scripted dialogue was also developed to accompanythe primer.

The Appeals Court Mediation Project was formally launched in impressiveceremonies that included the blessing and inauguration of its office on 31 August 2005,with lunch and a program that included a welcome by the PHILJA Chancellor and thenPresiding Justice Romeo A. Brawner, followed by messages from our development

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partners. The activity also included the unveiling of the PMC-CA marker, and presentationof newly trained mediators and trainers.

The Internship Program originally for a six-month period has been extended toApril 2006.



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Summary of the Year’s ActivitiesSummary of the Year’s ActivitiesSummary of the Year’s ActivitiesSummary of the Year’s ActivitiesSummary of the Year’s Activities

The first year of operation of the thirty-three (33) JURIS model courts in Bacolod andSan Fernando, Pampanga was remarkably successful. There are a total of eleven (11)Metropolitan Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) (seven (7) in Bacolod and four (4) in SanFernando) and twenty-two (22) Regional Trial Courts (RTC) (fourteen (14) in Bacolodand eight (8) in San Fernando, Pampanga), all of which comprise the original JURISmodel courts. As of 31 December 2005, a total of 2,594 cases were referred to mediation,including Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR), and parties to 2,056 cases have agreed tomediate, resulting in 1,087 settlements. However, the success of JURIS is not measuredsolely by the number of mediated or settled cases but also in the increased acceptabilityof Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the pilot sites by lawyers, judges, courtpersonnel and the general public. JURIS received favorable reviews from different sectorsof the society in Bacolod and San Fernando, Pampanga. Due to this outcome , thePhilippine Judicial Academy received numerous requests to expand the scope of JURISprojects to cover other cities and municipalities adjacent to cover original model courtsites.

There were also requests for the JURIS Project to expand to Bataan, Cebu, LaUnion, Zamboanga, Benguet and other provinces. Thus, in 2005, the Design andManagement Committee of JURIS decided to expand Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM)to courts in Silay City, Talisay City, Bago City and La Carlota City, including the MunicipalTrial Courts in Manapla, E.B. Magalona, Victorias City, Pulupandan, San Enrique,Valladolid, La Castellana, Murcia, Don Salvador, Moises Padilla-Isabela and Don SalvadorBenedicto, which are all adjacent to Bacolod. In San Fernando, Pampanga, CAM wasintroduced to the trial courts of Angeles City, Guagua, Macabebe, Bacolor, Sto. Tomas-Minalin, Arayat, Santa Ana-Candaba, Mexico-San Luis, Lubao, Sasmuan, Florida, Sta.Rita, Porac, Mabalacat-Magalang, Clark, Masantol and Apalit-San Simon.

Plans are also in place for three (3) new JURIS model court sites, namely: Baguio(which will serve the entire province of Benguet), San Fernando (which will serve theentire province of La Union) and Cagayan de Oro. Baguio and San Fernando will pilot-test both CAM and JDR while Cagayan de Oro will pilot test only JDR because there isalready an existing mediation center utilizing CAM. The choice of Benguet, La Unionand Cagayan de Oro was arrived at because the Joint Project Steering Committee ofJURIS wanted to set up ADR and JDR in geographical locations well-represented byindigenous and Muslim communities.

JUSTICE REFORM INITIATIVES SUPPORT

(JURIS) PROJECT



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Aside from making preparations and commencing advocacy and awarenessactivities in the new sites, JURIS also joined the rest of the Philippine Mediation Centersin intensifying mediation through the observance of the Settlement Month in June. Duringsaid period, 1,657 cases were referred to mediation, including JDR, and of these referredcases, parties to 1,178 cases have agreed to mediate, resulting in 405 settlements. Anovel practice which JURIS introduced during the Settlement Month is the pooling andfielding of mediators in adjacent courts outside the main sites to serve litigants who areunable to travel far distances for the mediation of their cases. In said areas, 567 caseswere referred to mediation, including JDR, out of which, parties to 440 cases have agreedto mediate, resulting in 168 settlements. The JURIS mediators went the extra mile tobring ADR closer to the adjacent courts.

Lastly, another significant milestone for JURIS in 2005 is the creation of acomprehensive skills-based faculty training program in mediation. JURIS embarked ona more strategic task of training trainers who will, in turn, train more mediators all overthe country. Initially, twenty-four (24) mediators from Bacolod and San Fernando,Pampanga were trained using the new trainer’s curriculum, and for their practicum, theywere immediately tasked to conduct mediation courses in their respective model courtsites as well as the adjacent areas with the assistance of their fellow mediators. Bymaking trainers out of the JURIS mediators, the mediators were drawn to a deeperlevel of involvement in the project, which motivated them even more. With the forty-one(41) mediators in San Fernando and fifty-four (54) in Bacolod, JURIS has a total ofeighty-eight (88) mediators who were able to settle 1,087 cases in a span of fourteen(14) months.

Programs/ActivitiesPrograms/ActivitiesPrograms/ActivitiesPrograms/ActivitiesPrograms/Activities

1.1.1.1.1. Mediation Advocacy SessionsMediation Advocacy SessionsMediation Advocacy SessionsMediation Advocacy SessionsMediation Advocacy Sessions

Instead of a single large plenary session, the advocacy forum for Baguio City was heldin several concurrent sessions with the various sectors of the society in attendance inseparate sessions. This was designed to encourage a more meaningful interactionbetween the project proponents and the people of Benguet. There were separatesessions for judges, court personnel, lawyers, prosecutors, businessmen, professionals,media personalities and non-government organizations.

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2.2.2.2.2. Social Context SessionsSocial Context SessionsSocial Context SessionsSocial Context SessionsSocial Context Sessions

The project proponents and trainers attended a half-day briefing on the life and cultureof the indigenous people of the Cordilleras. The presentation included discussions onthe history of the Igorot, their experiences through different periods of the nation’s history,their present issues and concerns as well as their beliefs and aspirations. Thereafter,an informal dialogue was conducted with tribal elders and leaders to exchange views ontribal disputes and conflict resolution mechanisms. During said dialogue, the tribal leadersshared with the project proponents their own mediation structures and systems as wellas actual mediation cases involving disputing Igorot tribes. In addition, the AlternativeLaw Groups also conducted a discussion session among experts and resource personsfrom the Cordilleras to discuss the social context of introducing ADR and JDR to thepeople in Benguet.

3.3.3.3.3. Orientation of Judges and Court Personnel in the Adjacent AreasOrientation of Judges and Court Personnel in the Adjacent AreasOrientation of Judges and Court Personnel in the Adjacent AreasOrientation of Judges and Court Personnel in the Adjacent AreasOrientation of Judges and Court Personnel in the Adjacent Areas

An orientation program on CAM was conducted for judges and court personnel in theadjacent areas of Bacolod and San Fernando, Pampanga. During the orientation, theconcepts, theories as well as the mechanics of ADR as practiced in CAM were presentedto the judges and court personnel to enable them to support the project and participatein CAM in their respective courts. Judges from the original model court sites also gavepersonal testimonies of how ADR is working in their respective courts, and theparticipants were treated to live fishbowl presentations and re-enactments (role-plays)of mediation sessions. A representative of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA)and members of the Design and Management Committee (DMC) were present to answerquestions and clarify policy issues during the open forum which was held at the end ofthe orientation. A total of thirty-nine (39) judges and fifty-seven (57) clerks of court ofthe courts in the original model court sites and the adjacent areas attended the two-dayorientation. The presentations were conducted by the judges, lawyers and mediators ofthe original model court sites.

4.4.4.4.4. Trainers’ Training for Mediators-TrainersTrainers’ Training for Mediators-TrainersTrainers’ Training for Mediators-TrainersTrainers’ Training for Mediators-TrainersTrainers’ Training for Mediators-Trainers

JURIS designed a three-day faculty training program on mediation to teach mediatorsto become trainers. It is a skills-based and process-oriented training program whichprovides the mediators the opportunity to hone their platform skills and familiarizethemselves with the various training methodologies and training aids used in adult



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learning. Judges and mediators from the original model court sites were invited to thetraining. Thereafter, their newly developed skills were tested in conducting the refreshercourse in their respective areas and the orientation programs in the adjacent areas.

5.5.5.5.5. Courses for Mediators and Lawyers in the Original Model Court SitesCourses for Mediators and Lawyers in the Original Model Court SitesCourses for Mediators and Lawyers in the Original Model Court SitesCourses for Mediators and Lawyers in the Original Model Court SitesCourses for Mediators and Lawyers in the Original Model Court Sites

A refresher course for mediators was conducted in each of the original model courtsites to allow the practicing mediators to revisit their past learning and take stock oftheir new skills acquired through actual experience in mediating disputes. JURIS alsosponsored a discussion forum with lawyers in each model court site to discuss andobtain feedback on the experience of lawyers who represented litigants in ADR andJDR conferences. The lawyers’ forum was conducted in partnership with the local Barassociations.

6.6.6.6.6. Settlement MonthSettlement MonthSettlement MonthSettlement MonthSettlement Month

The Settlement Month caused a deluge of cases referred for mediation. As a result,litigants of different cases had to be oriented en masse. There was also a shortage ofconference rooms to accommodate all the mediation conferences. Mediators also hadto stay for longer hours and work for additional days at the mediation center. For thosewho volunteered to mediate in the adjacent areas, they car-pooled or traveled togetherto the neighboring court houses. Since there were no mediation venues in the adjacentcourts, mediation was conducted in the courtrooms or in the chamber of the judges.Despite the difficulties, the judges, mediators, lawyers as well as the court and mediationcenter personnel managed to serve the litigants and help them find an acceptable andfair settlement of their dispute. As a result, the use of ADR increased in all model courtsites. The Settlement Month also allowed parties in cases which have passed the pre-trial stage to discuss settlement.

Updates on Continuing Programs/ActivitiesUpdates on Continuing Programs/ActivitiesUpdates on Continuing Programs/ActivitiesUpdates on Continuing Programs/ActivitiesUpdates on Continuing Programs/Activities

1.1.1.1.1. Continuous Improvement of JDR Pilot TestingContinuous Improvement of JDR Pilot TestingContinuous Improvement of JDR Pilot TestingContinuous Improvement of JDR Pilot TestingContinuous Improvement of JDR Pilot Testing

The JDR mechanism was first introduced in the country by JURIS in 2004 to help judgesexplore the settlement of their cases during pre-trial as mandated by Rule 18, asamended, of the Rules of Court. Without the JDR mechanism, most judges do notenter into the settlement process seriously for fear that, if a judge’s efforts to settle the

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case fail, he will be disqualified to conduct the trial of the case. Thus, JURIS introducedthe two-judge system, and taught judges the new skills of mediation, neutral evaluationand conciliation. However, because it is “uncharted territory,” the JDR operation ofJURIS is constantly scrutinized and feedback from judges are periodically obtained tohelp the DMC craft rules and procedures to perfect the practice. Assessment workshopsand dialogues on policies were conducted from time to time to allow judges from themodel court sites to talk about their experiences in JDR, comment on the existingstructures and rules and suggest changes and improvements. Past assumptions wereregularly examined and alternative structures and procedures were continually explored.It is envisioned that in early 2006, new and amended rules on JDR will be issued by theCourt.

2.2.2.2.2. Setting-Up of Three (3) New Model Court SitesSetting-Up of Three (3) New Model Court SitesSetting-Up of Three (3) New Model Court SitesSetting-Up of Three (3) New Model Court SitesSetting-Up of Three (3) New Model Court Sites

Preparations for the establishment of three (3) new model court sites are ongoing.Meetings with judges, lawyers and court personnel and the recruitment of mediatorsare continuous. The sites for the mediation centers are also being discussed with therespective local government units. The series of training programs are being examinedand revised in light of the experiences and learning obtained from the existing modelcourt sites. It is envisioned that there will be sixteen (16) more seminars to be conductedincluding one for judges, another for mediators, and another for lawyers (as legal counselin a mediation conference). The clerks of court, branch clerks, cash clerks and otherinvolved court personnel as well as the judges, mediators and lawyers will be orientedon the operating procedures of JURIS before the CAM and JDR mechanisms are madeoperational.

Statistical DataStatistical DataStatistical DataStatistical DataStatistical Data

Please refer to the consolidated statististical data on page 58 for Bacolod City andPampanga.

ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

The thrust of JURIS in 2005 was to intensify ADR by expanding CAM and JDR to moreareas. In support of this goal, JURIS addressed the more strategic issues of capacitybuilding, training of trainers, operational improvements and deliberations on the choiceof the next model court sites. Considering that JURIS is a pilot project for JDR, focus



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was also directed towards improving the operative models of JDR such as those involvingthe two-judge system vis-à-vis special courts and single sala courts, or alternativemechanism to include cases that have passed the pre-trial stage but show chances ofsettlement under the JDR.

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Pursuant to the “Implementing Rules and Regulations on Mediation in the TrialCourts,” Administrative Matter (A.M.) No. 04-3-15-SC, dated 23 March 2004, theAcademy constituted an ADR Grievance Committee to investigate prima faciemeritorious reports/complaints against or incidents involving any Supervisor ormediator.

Pursuant to the same Rules, the following were appointed to serve for six (6)months, Dean Pacifico A. Agabin, as Chairman, and Attorneys Luch R. Gempis, Jr.and Juan B. Bañez, Jr., as Members. The members were re-appointed on September20, 2005 to serve for another six (6) months.

As of December 31, 2005, seven (7) complaints against Mediators have beeninvestigated by the Committee and resolved accordingly. Three (3) mediators weredisciplined.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE

ADR GADR GADR GADR GADR GRIEVANCERIEVANCERIEVANCERIEVANCERIEVANCE

CCCCCOMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEE


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I.I.I.I.I. ProjectsProjectsProjectsProjectsProjects

A.A.A.A.A. Pilot Project on Skills-Based Video Training Modules to EnhancePilot Project on Skills-Based Video Training Modules to EnhancePilot Project on Skills-Based Video Training Modules to EnhancePilot Project on Skills-Based Video Training Modules to EnhancePilot Project on Skills-Based Video Training Modules to EnhanceCapacity of Family Court Judges and Court Personnel in HandlingCapacity of Family Court Judges and Court Personnel in HandlingCapacity of Family Court Judges and Court Personnel in HandlingCapacity of Family Court Judges and Court Personnel in HandlingCapacity of Family Court Judges and Court Personnel in HandlingChild Abuse CasesChild Abuse CasesChild Abuse CasesChild Abuse CasesChild Abuse Cases

The Philippine Judicial Academy and the Child Protection Unit Network, Inc. (CPU-Net)secured a grant from the Government of United Kingdom’s (UK’s) Global OpportunitiesFund to implement the project Improving Judicial Proceedings Involving Child SexualAbuse/Exploitation Cases. The project aims to increase sensitivity and awareness ofthe courts in the handling of children who undergo the judicial process. The first phaseof the project involves the production of six (6) skills-based learning videos based onactual court cases that aim to stimulate small group discussions on common problemswhen a child is involved in judicial proceedings. The next phase involves training membersof the Philippine juvenile justice system, using the videos as the key learning resource.

II.II.II.II.II. Roundtable DiscussionsRoundtable DiscussionsRoundtable DiscussionsRoundtable DiscussionsRoundtable Discussions

A.A.A.A.A. On Blood-TypingOn Blood-TypingOn Blood-TypingOn Blood-TypingOn Blood-Typing

The Group invited experts from the UP-NSRI DNA Laboratory and the CPU-Net todiscuss the sufficiency of blood-typing as evidence.

B.B.B.B.B. On DNA EvidenceOn DNA EvidenceOn DNA EvidenceOn DNA EvidenceOn DNA Evidence

On 14 March 2005, the Research Group invited Mr. Christopher Asplen, former ExecutiveDirector of the United States National Commission on DNA Evidence, and experts fromthe UP-NSRI DNA Laboratory, headed by Dr. Maria Corazon A. de Ungria, to discussthe issues regarding the Draft Rule on the Admissibility and Evaluation of DNA Evidence.

C.C.C.C.C. Roundtable Discussion with Local Civil RegistrarRoundtable Discussion with Local Civil RegistrarRoundtable Discussion with Local Civil RegistrarRoundtable Discussion with Local Civil RegistrarRoundtable Discussion with Local Civil Registrar

On 15 April 2005, the Group invited representatives from the National Statistics Office(NSO) and the Local Civil Registrars of Manila and Quezon City to discuss issues arisingfrom the implementation of R.A. No. 9255 (Allowing Illegitimate Children to Use theSurnames of Their Fathers) and to determine the need for a special rule thereon.

III.III.III.III.III. Proposed RulesProposed RulesProposed RulesProposed RulesProposed Rules

A.A.A.A.A. On Draft “3-in-1” Rule on AdoptionOn Draft “3-in-1” Rule on AdoptionOn Draft “3-in-1” Rule on AdoptionOn Draft “3-in-1” Rule on AdoptionOn Draft “3-in-1” Rule on Adoption

The proposed rule aims to create guidelines for Family Court Judges regarding theimplementation of the petitions for Adoption, Declaration of Abandonment, and

RESEARCH GROUP

RRRRRESEARCHESEARCHESEARCHESEARCHESEARCH G G G G GROUPROUPROUPROUPROUP


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Correction of Simulated Births. Judges-Participants in the on-going Advanced LevelMulti-Sectoral Seminar-Workshop on Juvenile and Domestic Relations Justice validatethe draft to refine it further.

B.B.B.B.B. Draft Rule on DiversionDraft Rule on DiversionDraft Rule on DiversionDraft Rule on DiversionDraft Rule on Diversion

This proposed rule is discussed in a separate session in the on-going Advanced LevelMulti-Sectoral Seminar-Workshop on Juvenile and Domestic Relations Justice. Basedon the outputs of the Seminar, the publication of a Manual on Diversion for Family CourtJudges is being planned in order to have uniformity in implementing Diversion.

C.C.C.C.C. Draft Rule on the Admissibility and Evaluation of DNA EvidenceDraft Rule on the Admissibility and Evaluation of DNA EvidenceDraft Rule on the Admissibility and Evaluation of DNA EvidenceDraft Rule on the Admissibility and Evaluation of DNA EvidenceDraft Rule on the Admissibility and Evaluation of DNA Evidence

The draft Rule is a response to the growing acceptance of DNA, under certaincircumstances, as evidence, and the capability of our local laboratories to perform DNAtesting. One of the features of the draft Rule concerns the issuance of a DNA TestingOrder to compel a person to provide DNA samples for examination under certainconditions.

IV. ProposalsIV. ProposalsIV. ProposalsIV. ProposalsIV. Proposals

A.A.A.A.A. Proposal for the Creation of a Social Work Adviser PositionProposal for the Creation of a Social Work Adviser PositionProposal for the Creation of a Social Work Adviser PositionProposal for the Creation of a Social Work Adviser PositionProposal for the Creation of a Social Work Adviser Position

The proposal reiterates the recommendation of then Court Administrator Alfredo L.Benipayo to create the position under the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA). Theproposed position aims to enhance the present functions of the Family Courts bymaximizing the effectivity and efficiency of the Social Services Counseling Division andthe Social Welfare Officers.

The Members of the Research Group are further studying the matter.

B.B.B.B.B. Health Law ModulesHealth Law ModulesHealth Law ModulesHealth Law ModulesHealth Law Modules

The Academy and the Health Law Study Group of U.P. Manila College of Public Health-National Institute of Health (CPH-NIH-UPM) formulated four (4) modules onenvironmental health and law to guide judges in deciding cases involving issues thatrequire harmonizing the need for a safe environment and imperatives of economicgrowth. This will also give them the technical know-how in weighing evidence to resolvethese conflicting issues.

The Academy will integrate some of these modules in the Environmental LawSeminar-Workshop for Selected Judges, a series of programs conducted in cooperationwith the Haribon Foundation.

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IIIIINTERNATIONALNTERNATIONALNTERNATIONALNTERNATIONALNTERNATIONAL

OOOOORGANIZATIONSRGANIZATIONSRGANIZATIONSRGANIZATIONSRGANIZATIONS & C & C & C & C & COMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEEOMMITTEE

MMMMMEMBERSHIPSEMBERSHIPSEMBERSHIPSEMBERSHIPSEMBERSHIPS

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS

I. Membership in International OrganizationsI. Membership in International OrganizationsI. Membership in International OrganizationsI. Membership in International OrganizationsI. Membership in International Organizations

A.A.A.A.A. International Organization for Judicial Training (IOJT)International Organization for Judicial Training (IOJT)International Organization for Judicial Training (IOJT)International Organization for Judicial Training (IOJT)International Organization for Judicial Training (IOJT)

PHILJA remains active in the international scene with Justice Ameurfina A. MelencioHerrera’s re-election as the IOJT’s Deputy Regional President for Asia and the Pacific.The Philippines was among the founding members of the IOJT, an organization thatwas established in 2002 in Jerusalem, Israel, with membership consisting of judicialtraining institutes from all over the world sharing a common aim of advancing andpromoting the continuous training and education of judges.

Justice Herrera attended the IOJT Executive Committee and Board of Governorsmeetings held in Reno, Nevada, on 15-16 November 2005. Among the topics discussedwere the IOJT Policies and Strategic Plan as well as the 2006 Congress.

B.B.B.B.B. Asia-Pacific Judicial Educators Forum (APJEF)Asia-Pacific Judicial Educators Forum (APJEF)Asia-Pacific Judicial Educators Forum (APJEF)Asia-Pacific Judicial Educators Forum (APJEF)Asia-Pacific Judicial Educators Forum (APJEF)

PHILJA continues to hold the positions of Chairman of the Executive Committee andSecretary General of the Asia Pacific Judicial Educators Forum (APJEF), which wasorganized on 10-14 February 2003 in the Philippines. The APJEF’s principal purpose isto provide judicial educators and institutions in the Asia Pacific Region the opportunityto exchange information and resources to improve the quality of judicial education inthe Asia Pacific.

APJEF members had an opportunity to convene for the second time last 28-30November 2005. Two (2) countries, namely, Bhutan and Marshall Islands, were welcomedas new members. Among the proposals brought up during the meeting was the possiblelink with other members through video-conferencing and putting up of a website throughwhich its members could exchange information and resources by contributing articles.


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II. Committee MembershipsII. Committee MembershipsII. Committee MembershipsII. Committee MembershipsII. Committee Memberships

A.A.A.A.A. Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary: Transforming Paradigm ofGender Responsiveness in the Judiciary: Transforming Paradigm ofGender Responsiveness in the Judiciary: Transforming Paradigm ofGender Responsiveness in the Judiciary: Transforming Paradigm ofGender Responsiveness in the Judiciary: Transforming Paradigm ofand Enhancing Commitment to Gender Equality — Sub-Committeeand Enhancing Commitment to Gender Equality — Sub-Committeeand Enhancing Commitment to Gender Equality — Sub-Committeeand Enhancing Commitment to Gender Equality — Sub-Committeeand Enhancing Commitment to Gender Equality — Sub-Committeeon Training and Capability-Buildingon Training and Capability-Buildingon Training and Capability-Buildingon Training and Capability-Buildingon Training and Capability-Building

The establishment of the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ)led to the creation of sub-committees to facilitate the implementation of the Genderand Development (GAD) Mainstreaming Plan, particularly the core strategies adoptedby the CGRJ. One of these sub-committees is the Sub-Committee on Training andCapability-Building, headed by Dr. Purificacion V. Quisumbing, Chair, Commission onHuman Rights (CHR) and the Department of International and Human Rights Law,PHILJA. Its members are: Professor Myrna S. Feliciano, Commissioner Linda Malenab-Hornilla, Professor Sedfrey M. Candelaria, Professor Amparita A. Sta. Maria and Ms.Rouschelle G. Mercado. It aims to transform the paradigm and enhance the commitmentof the judicial system to gender equality through training and capability-building of judgesand court personnel. Training is to be implemented by the Philippine Judicial Academy,the education arm of the Supreme Court.

With the approval of the respective action plans of the Sub-Committees by theSupreme Court En Banc last 12 October 2004, the implementation of said action plansstarted in 2005. Due to limited resources, critical activities lined up for the year were notrealized. Despite said limitation, the Sub-Committee on Training and Capability-Buildingoptimized every opportunity available during seminars conducted by PHILJA to be ableto carry out its mandate.

B.B.B.B.B. Supreme Court - Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Access toSupreme Court - Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Access toSupreme Court - Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Access toSupreme Court - Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Access toSupreme Court - Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Access toJustice for the Poor ProjectJustice for the Poor ProjectJustice for the Poor ProjectJustice for the Poor ProjectJustice for the Poor Project

On 10 August 2004, the European Commission and the Republic of the Philippines,through the Department of Foreign Affairs, signed the Project’s Financing Agreement.The Project involves different government agencies and the Alternative Law Groups,Inc., with the Department of Social Work and Development as Executing Agency. TheSupreme Court, as a Partner Agency,implements Component 1 of the Project, which is

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the institutionalization of the decentralized information, education, and communication(IEC) function of the judiciary in thirty-six (36) municipal courts covered by the Project.

The Chancellor is a member of the Project Steering Committee, while ProfessorSedfrey M. Candelaria and Attorney David L. Ballesteros are the Academy’srepresentatives to the Supreme Court’s Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Project.The TWG is tasked, among others, to prepare the IEC Guidelines for First Level clerksof court.

C. Committee on Knowledge SharingC. Committee on Knowledge SharingC. Committee on Knowledge SharingC. Committee on Knowledge SharingC. Committee on Knowledge Sharing

The PHILJA Chancellor is a member of the Committee on Knowledge Sharing, an adhoc Committee which managed successfully the International Conference andShowcase on Judicial Reform held on November 28-30, 2005. The Committee whichwas formed in 2005 was chaired by Associate Justice Artemio V. Panganiban withAssociate Justices Angelina Sandoval Gutierrez and Antonio T. Carpio as ViceChairpersons and Justice Adolfo S. Azcuna, Justice Ameurfina A. Melencio Herrera,Atty. Ismael G. Khan, Jr. and Ms. Evelyn T. Dumdum as members.

The International Conference led to the establishment of the Asia Pacific JudicialReform (APJR) Forum, the signing of the Manila Declaration, and the launching of theJudicial Reform Network (JRN21) in the 21st Century, all of which are aimed at facilitatingknowledge-sharing and knowledge-management mechanisms among the justices,judges, and legal practitioners in the Asia Pacific Region.

To this end, the Committee has the following responsibilities:

1. Provide overall policy advice to the Philippine Supreme Court in connectionwith its participation in the APJR Forum;

2. Decide on key policy, administrative, and logistical concerns relative to theForum;

3. Facilitate the formulation and implementation of the Action Plan for thePhilippine Supreme Court in reference to the Manila Declaration;


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4. Maintain the JRN21 Website as the repository of all judicial knowledgeproducts; and

5. Undertake other tasks that maybe assigned by the Chief Justice in relationto the Forum.

D. Executive Committee for the Judicial Reform ProgramD. Executive Committee for the Judicial Reform ProgramD. Executive Committee for the Judicial Reform ProgramD. Executive Committee for the Judicial Reform ProgramD. Executive Committee for the Judicial Reform Program

In November 2000, the Supreme Court unveiled its Action Program for Judicial Reform(APJR) which outlined a medium-term vision and plan for reforming the Philippine benchand bar through procedural, administrative and management changes, withimprovements to support infrastructure and human resources. The Court has, sincethen, vigorously implemented various reform projects aimed at enhancing judicialinstitutions and improving the delivery of judicial services. Aiding the Court in overseeingthe implementation of the various reform programs is the Executive Committee for theJudicial Reform Program headed by the Chief Justice, with the PHILJA Chancellor asone of the members.

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LINKAGES WITH PARTNER AGENCIES

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The Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) continues its partnership with developmentagencies in various programs, special focus seminars, workshops and related activities.

Judicial Education has brought about a dynamic relationship between PHILJA andseveral sectors in the justice system.

US EmbassyUS EmbassyUS EmbassyUS EmbassyUS Embassy

The Embassy of the United States of America conducted a Roundtable Discussion onAnti-Trafficking in Persons and a Roundtable Discussion on Criminal Law, Anti-Terrorismand Evidence Gathering.

British Embassy and UP-NSRIBritish Embassy and UP-NSRIBritish Embassy and UP-NSRIBritish Embassy and UP-NSRIBritish Embassy and UP-NSRI

The British Embassy and the University of the UP-NSRI, introduced the basic conceptsregarding the Use of Forensic DNA Technology in the Justice System.

UNICEF, AKAP-AHRC, USAID and TAFUNICEF, AKAP-AHRC, USAID and TAFUNICEF, AKAP-AHRC, USAID and TAFUNICEF, AKAP-AHRC, USAID and TAFUNICEF, AKAP-AHRC, USAID and TAF

UNICEF, AKAP-AHRC , USAID and TAF funded the Regional Multi-Sectoral Seminar-Workshops on Juvenile and Domestic Relations Justice.

USAID and TAFUSAID and TAFUSAID and TAFUSAID and TAFUSAID and TAF

PHILJA partnered with the USAID and TAF in several projects, seminars and conferencesfocusing on CAM and ACM. These activities aimed to strengthen and enhance the CAMand ACM projects of the Academy.

TAF also developed and produced two (2) e-Learning Modules on Remedial Lawand Civil Law.

USAID and TAF, together with US-AEP, conducted a seminar on Building CourtCapacity to Handle Environmental Law Cases Through Curriculum Development, and acurriculum and training manual committee convened.

The Development and Production of Interactive Training Module on Enrivonmentwas conducted. The module will be published in a CD-ROM version aimed to provide usefulcontext for the enrichment of PHILJA’s environment-related initiatives.

USAID, TAF, ROLE and ABA-AsiaUSAID, TAF, ROLE and ABA-AsiaUSAID, TAF, ROLE and ABA-AsiaUSAID, TAF, ROLE and ABA-AsiaUSAID, TAF, ROLE and ABA-Asia

To ensure that the Justices of the Sandiganbayan are sufficiently equipped with theknowledge and skill to utilize the computer resources that will be made available to them,USAID, TAF, ROLE and ABA-Asia provided for two (2) Basic Computer Trainings forSandiganbayan Justices.


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USAID and ABA-AsiaUSAID and ABA-AsiaUSAID and ABA-AsiaUSAID and ABA-AsiaUSAID and ABA-Asia

USAID and ABA-Asia aims to orient the participants on the APJR by conducting theNew Code of Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary, court personnel of the Sandiganbayanand Court of Tax Appeals, and Roundtable Discussion for Associate Justices of theCourt of Appeals-Cagayan de Oro. Subjects on the New Code of Conduct wereintegrated into Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program for Judges and BranchClerks of Court of the Regional Trial Courts and First Level Trial Courts.

NJINJINJINJINJI

PHILJA, together with the NJI, continued its collaboration on the implementation of theJURIS Project. Some of the activities included a Lawyers’ Forum, a Mediation andJudges’ Training, and a Family Mediation Design Workshop.

Aside from the activities relating to the JURIS Project, NJI also partnered withthe Academy in a Faculty Development Workshop, a Mediators’ Advanced Course, aPre-Settlement Period Forum, a Workshop on Judicial Dispute Resolution, and anAdvocacy Forum.

UNDP-GEF-SGP, IVPPAFI, and Haribon Foundation, Inc.UNDP-GEF-SGP, IVPPAFI, and Haribon Foundation, Inc.UNDP-GEF-SGP, IVPPAFI, and Haribon Foundation, Inc.UNDP-GEF-SGP, IVPPAFI, and Haribon Foundation, Inc.UNDP-GEF-SGP, IVPPAFI, and Haribon Foundation, Inc.

The UNDP-GEF-SGP, IVPPAFI, Inc. and Haribon Foundation, through the Anest forBiodiversity Conservation in the Philippines Program, provided an Environmental LawSeminar for Judges in the Sierra Madre Area, as well as in the Provinces of Cebu andPalawan. Three (3) more seminars will be undertaken.

UNDP and MEDCoUNDP and MEDCoUNDP and MEDCoUNDP and MEDCoUNDP and MEDCo

The UNDP and MEDCo provided several seminars on Strengthening Shari’a and IslamicJurisprudence.

AJFI, DAR, DOJ, PEACE and SALIGANAJFI, DAR, DOJ, PEACE and SALIGANAJFI, DAR, DOJ, PEACE and SALIGANAJFI, DAR, DOJ, PEACE and SALIGANAJFI, DAR, DOJ, PEACE and SALIGAN

The AJFI, DAR, DOJ, PEACE and SALIGAN conducted a Multi-Sectoral Seminar-Workshop on Agrarian Justice.

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Together with the NBI, the Academy conducted a three-day Personal Security TrainingOrientation Field Seminar for Judges at the PHILJA Development Center, TagaytayCity.

US-AEPUS-AEPUS-AEPUS-AEPUS-AEP

To identify existing challenges and explore new options for strengthening judicialinstitutional capacity for adjudicating environmental disputes, a Judicial RoundtableDiscussion on Environmental Dispute Resolution was also conducted with the US-AEP.

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On 17 to 27January 2005, the Academy conducted a Component Study Tour for sixteen(16) judges of the Supreme People’s Court and Province People’s Courts of the SocialistRepublic of Vietnam who were also briefed on the functions and activities of PHILJA.The CFM Project in Pasay City and the CAM program at the PMC Units of Manila andMakati were among the places visited by the delegates. They witnessed actual mediationproceedings in Manila, with two (2) cases settled, six (6) rescheduled, and four (4)returned to the court. Impressed with the proceedings, the delegates said that theywould also adopt the mediation program in their own courts.

Accompanied by the Chancellor, Justice Ameurfina A. Melencio Herrera and thedelegates visited the Independence Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, and then proceeded toTagaytay for a picnic lunch. Their Excellencies, the Ambassador of Vietnam to thePhilippines and the Ambassador of the Philippines to Vietnam, joined the activity.

On 3 February 2005, the Chancellor hosted a dinner at El Pueblo for Ms. MarilynCollette, the newly appointed International Director for NJI and Project Manager forJURIS, who was in town for a familiarization tour. She visited the ADR Model CourtSites and held a meeting with PHILJA’s Committees on Alternative Dispute Resolutionfor CAM and Design and Management for JURIS.

Honorable Aziz Mushaber Ahmadi, Former Chief Justice of India, and HonorableDiane P. Wood, US Court of Appeals Justice of the 7th Circuit, paid a courtesy call onthe Chancellor and Academic Council Members on 9 February 2005. The Chancellorbriefly described PHILJA and the different programs, seminars, and activities undertakenby the Academy in the training of Justices, Judges, lawyers, and court personnel. DCABernardo T. Ponferrada discussed the Court-Annexed Mediation program of theSupreme Court, which aims to decongest the heavy caseload of courts nationwide, andimplemented as part of the APJR under the Davide Watch.

Canadian Justices Louise McDonald from Saskatchewan, Lorna Lee Snowiefrom Ottawa, Suzanne Courteau from Quebec, Professors Brettel Dawson of NJI andLeslie McLeod from Toronto attended the 35th ADR Model Courts and Design andManagement Committee JURIS Project Meeting held on 18 February 2005. They alsovisited ADR Model Court Sites to look into their progress. In addition, they attended atwo-week one-on-one mentoring activity with the Judges of Pampanga and Bacolod.They were impressed by the success of the project, expressed satisfaction with theprogress made, and commended the judges for their ability and interest to learn moreof JDR.

The Academy, in partnership with US-AEP led by Mr. Paul B. Violette, conducteda Roundtable Discussion on Environmental Dispute Resolution on 18 February 2005.The programme was geared towards the strengthening of human and institutional

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capacity of the Philippine Judiciary to improve environmental enforcement. Theparticipation of Senior Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno contributed greatly to thesuccess of the discussion. He called for specific data, not merely generalities, inconsidering issues. He cited the confluence of opinions that the mining rush should notcompromise our environmental integrity.

An orientation meeting was held for the Plenary of Corps of Professors on 16March 2005 with representatives from the NJI - Mr. George Thomson, Executive Director,and Professor Brettel Dawson – with the objective of exchanging experiences and viewson developments in judicial education curricula, instructional strategies and methodologyin course design and delivery, and current thinking on the role of evaluation in judicialeducation and evaluation methodologies.

On 28 to 30 April 2005, PHILJA prepared a series of activities for the visit ofHonorable Rodolfo de Leon Molina, Chief Justice of Guatemala; Honorable Ruben EliuHigeuros Giron; and Honorable Carlos Gilberto Chacon Torrebiarte.

A series of Courtesy Calls on the Chancellor, PHILJA Officials and AcademicCouncil Members were made by various groups on different dates, namely: a) GroupStudy Exchange, Rotary International District 300 India, headed by Rtn. A.P. Ramarajon 24 February 2005; b) Delegates from the People’s Supreme Court and SouthernAppellate Court of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), headed by H.E. DavoneVangvichith and Mrs. Boualian Manivong, Vice Presidents of the People’s SupremeCourt and Southern Appellate Court, respectively; c) Judge Pongdei Wanich Kittikuland Ms. Watcharee Limanon from Thailand on 4 August 2005; and, d) Dr. Susan Case,Director of Testing of the United States National Conference of Bar Examiners, on 5October 2005.

On 24 August 2005, the 8th Chief Justice Distinguished Lecture Series was heldat the Lyceum of the Philippines with Mr. Anthony Toft, Chief Legal Counsel of theWorld Bank, as Guest Lecturer.

On 25 August 2005, a Roundtable Discussion on Anti-Trafficking in Personswas conducted with Ms. Suzanne Tomatoe, Esq., Director of Immigrant Women andChildren Project, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and Ms. Ruth Urry,Acting Press Attaché, Embassy of the United States of America.

Officials from the Kingdom of Nepal visited PHILJA on 30 August 2005 and 26October 2005.

On 6 October 2005, Prof. Sara Sun Beale, Esq.; Charles LB Lowndes, Professorof Law at Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina, took part in aRoundtable Discussion on Criminal Law, Anti-Terrorism and Evidence Gathering.Participants included Justices from the Court of Appeals, PHILJA Professors, Judges,State Prosecutors and representatives from the Public Attorney’s Office.

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To assist PHILJA in the pursuit of its mandate of contributing available legal literature,research materials and academic course proceedings for continuing judicial educationto members of the community and the legal community, Justice Jainal Rasul, Sr., Chairof Sharia’ Department, provided books about Shari’a and Filipino Muslims, while AttorneyJose Maria Ochave, PHILJA Professor, extended support to the research and publicationendeavors of the Academy by providing technical tools.

PHILJA also received various books from The Asia Foundation (TAF), AsianDevelopment Bank, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), and theGuatemalan and Pakistan delegates during the International Conference and Showcaseon Judicial Reforms, which increased the Academy’s resource materials.

The Construction Industry Arbitration Commission provided a handbook onAlternative Dispute Resolution for the Philippine Construction Industry. The ChildProtection Unit Network (CPU-Net) and University of the Philippines-National ScienceResearch Institute (UP-NSRI) provided The DNA Manual.

PHILJA, on behalf of the First and Second Level Courts of Parañaque City, alsoaccepted computer units from the Parañaque City Bar Association to improve their day-to-day operations in the docketing of cases.

DONATIONS

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I.I.I.I.I. PHILJA Judicial JournalPHILJA Judicial JournalPHILJA Judicial JournalPHILJA Judicial JournalPHILJA Judicial Journal

PHILJA published Volume 7, Issue No. 24 (July to December 2005) featuring TheCommitment to Judicial Education, a compilation of papers presented at the 9th ChiefJustice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series conducted on 27 September2005 highlighting PHILJA’s accomplishments in response to the Chief Justice’s ActionProgram for Judicial Reform (APJR).

II.II.II.II.II. PHILJA BulletinPHILJA BulletinPHILJA BulletinPHILJA BulletinPHILJA Bulletin

PHILJA published four (4) issues of the PHILJA Bulletin (Vol. VII, Issue Nos. 25-28)which contained PHILJA news and activities, Doctrinal Reminders lifted from the latestrulings of the Court, as well as Resolutions, Orders and Circulars issued by the Court.The PHILJA Bulletin featured Court issuances including the Rule on AdministrativeProcedure in Sexual Harassment Cases and Guidelines on Proper Work Decorum inthe Judiciary; Proposed Guidelines for the Forfeiture of Real Property Bonds and Disposalof the Forfeited Real Property; Rule of Procedure in Cases of Civil Forfeiture, AssetPreservation, and Freezing of Monetary Instrument, Property, or Proceeds Representing,Involving, or Relating to an Unlawful Activity or Money Laundering Offense under RepublicAct No. 9160, as amended, as well as the Amendment of Rules 112 and 114 of theRevised Rules on Criminal Procedure by Removing the Conduct of PreliminaryInvestigation from Judges of the First Level Courts.

III.III.III.III.III. PHILJA WebsitePHILJA WebsitePHILJA WebsitePHILJA WebsitePHILJA Website

The PHILJA Website (http://philja.supremecourt.gov.ph) contains quarterly news andupdates on PHILJA, announcements, seminar schedules and other information regardingPHILJA events.

IV. PHILJA Fax/Electronic AlertsIV. PHILJA Fax/Electronic AlertsIV. PHILJA Fax/Electronic AlertsIV. PHILJA Fax/Electronic AlertsIV. PHILJA Fax/Electronic Alerts

Twelve (12) issues of PHILJA Fax/Electronic Alerts were transmitted to 102 courts byfax, and 70 courts via e-mail. The Fax/Electronic Alerts were also distributed to judgesat all PHILJA seminars. They were likewise uploaded monthly on the PHILJA Websitefor faster dissemination.

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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Internal FundingInternal FundingInternal FundingInternal FundingInternal Funding

The principal source of the Academy’s fund for CY 2005, the Supreme Court - FiscalAutonomy (SC-FA) Fund, also known as PHILJA-FA, was allotted by Chief Justice HilarioG. Davide Jr., through Memorandum Order No. 03-2005, dated January 7, 2005. Thisfund was utilized for the conduct of the following seminars and activities: (a) RegionalJudicial Career Enhancement Program;(b) Orientation Seminar-Workshop for NewlyAppointed Judges and Clerks of Court;(c) Special Focus Seminars; (d) ConventionSeminars; (e) Pre-Judicature Program(deficit); and (f) Other Seminars.

All expenses relative to the conduct of the abovementioned activities were chargedto this fund, except for Convention Seminars, which are partly funded by the associationsponsoring the convention. The financial counterpart required by the donor agencies isalso charged to this fund.

At the end of the year, any unspent balance is added to the allotment of thesucceeding year.

The following chart shows the sources of PHILJA funds, both internal and external,for CY 2005.

Note: Grants and other forms of financial assistance extended to the Academy, whichNote: Grants and other forms of financial assistance extended to the Academy, whichNote: Grants and other forms of financial assistance extended to the Academy, whichNote: Grants and other forms of financial assistance extended to the Academy, whichNote: Grants and other forms of financial assistance extended to the Academy, whichwere directly disbursed by the donor/partner agencies, are excluded.were directly disbursed by the donor/partner agencies, are excluded.were directly disbursed by the donor/partner agencies, are excluded.were directly disbursed by the donor/partner agencies, are excluded.were directly disbursed by the donor/partner agencies, are excluded.


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External FundingExternal FundingExternal FundingExternal FundingExternal Funding

The external funds of the Academy consist of the following:

The JURIS Project Fund was utilized to cover the expenses for the followingprojects:

1. Training and Workshop of Philippine Mediation Center (PMC) Mediators forPampanga and Bacolod units;

2. Training and Mentoring of Judges and Lawyers;

3. Internship of Mediators;

4. Faculty Development Workshop;

5. Design and Management of Model Courts;

6. Advocacy Forums; and

7. Formal Launching of the two (2) sites.

The Asia Foundation (TAF) Fund consists of the grants from the Foundation tothe Academy to carry out the following projects:

1. Court of Appeals Mediation Project;

2. Development and Production of Interactive Training Module;

3. e-Learning Modules Production on Remedial and Civil Law;

4. Refresher Course for Cagayan de Oro Mediators, Program Evaluation,Philippine Mediation Center (PMC) Inauguration and Mediators’ Oath Taking;

5. Regional Mediation Training and Establishment of Philippine Mediation Center(PMC) Units in the cities of General Santos and Tacloban;

6. Mediation Settlement Period; and

7. Building Court Capacity to Handle Environmental Cases Through CurriculumDevelopment

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The UNICEF Fund, on the other hand, was utilized for the conduct of the RegionalMulti-Sectoral Seminars on Juvenile and Domestic Relations Justice for National CapitalJudicial Region (NCJR) and Regions VII, VIII and XI.

The Program Management Office-Government of the Philippines (PMO-GOP)and American Bar Association-Asia Law Initiative (ABA-Asia) released funds for theconduct of Orientation on the New Code of Judicial Conduct for Court Personnel, whichformed part of the Regional Judicial Career Enhancement Program (RJCEP).

The Pre-Judicature Fund (PJP) comprises the fees collected from the participantsupon enrollment in the Pre-Judicature Program (PJP). For this year, there were two (2)Pre-Judicature Programs (PJP) conducted, in which the actual expenses exceeded thetotal fees collected. Thus, the Supreme Court - Fiscal Autonomy (SC-FA) Fund wasused to augment the deficit.

AssessmentAssessmentAssessmentAssessmentAssessment

For the past seven (7) years of the Academy’s operation, it has been observed that thefunds utilized by the Academy to conduct its trainings and seminars depend on theannual allotment given by the Chief Justice and financial assistance coming from ourpartner and donor agencies. This financial condition reflects the need on the part ofthe Academy to strengthen its capacity by increasing its funding resources to achieveall its planned activities.

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The Human Resource Development (HRD) Program of PHILJA continues to hone theskills of PHILJA employees and enhance organizational relationships by equipping themwith necessary tools in the performance of their jobs and providing a venue to reinforceemployee morale and cultivate team spirit.

Responsibility to self, others, and the organization was the principal frameworkof the HRD Sessions of the Academy for the year 2005.

Through the PHILJA HRD Program, individual, career and organizationaldevelopment was achieved.

PHILJA employees were provided with opportunities to participate in local andforeign trainings sponsored by the PHILJA, offices of the Court, government agenciesand development partners throughout the year.

These employees benefited from training programs which aimed to strengthentheir individual capabilities to become more effective in their jobs and to prepare themfor bigger responsibilities when career advancement is available.

Training programs attended by PHILJA employees covered a variety of subjectswhich included courses on Management (Training Course in Conference Management,and Seminar on Property and Supply Management), and Information Technology (ActionPlanning and Target Setting Workshop on the Information Communication TechnologyProjects for the Judiciary, Seminar-Workshop on Basic Web Development, and JAVAProgramming Module 1). Foreign training programs covered Special Focus Concerns[Study Visit to the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court (CIPITC)and Thai Supreme Court, EC-ASEAN Symposium on IP Enforcement by SpecializedCourts, Challenges and the Recent Developments in Intellectual Property Rights] andHuman Resource Development (HR Training, Short-Term Course under Philippines-Australia Human Resources Development Facility-PAHRDF) which entailed travel toThailand and Australia. There were also seminars to orient employees on pertinentlaws and rules (Seminar Workshop on the Code of Conduct for Judicial Personnel,Seminar on Laws and Rules on Government Expenditures, Special Seminar for MCLE-Accredited Providers, and Orientation on UNICEF Financial Rules and Procedures forthe Implementing Partners of Child Protection Programmes). Development courses werealso made available for employees of all levels (Supervisory Development Course, ServiceDelivery Enhancement Program, and Driver Development Course).

PHILJA HUMAN RESOURCE

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

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PHILJA employees who were given opportunity to participate in training programsand took advantage of the knowledge will be given the chance to impart their learningsto their co-workers through PHILJA HRD Echo Sessions.

Those who attended the Training Program on Managing Development Projects,Programmes and Organizations, Grant Management Seminar, Training NeedsAssessment Seminar-Workshop, Seminar on Effective Presentation Techniques,Training on Protocol and Social Graces, and Personal Security Training last year havestarted to share with other PHILJA employees the knowledge and the materials theyhave acquired from these training programs. Even employees who are computer literatehave volunteered to take turns in teaching the basics of computer operation. Learningis then not limited to a few but becomes available to many. Self-esteem is also enhancedby entrusting PHILJA employees the role of trainors.

Aside from Echo Sessions, there were also sessions to remind and emphasizethe Inter-Office Memos issued by PHILJA on Safekeeping of PHILJA Equipment,Reprographic Reproduction of PHILJA Materials and Other References and instillingProper Work Decorum.

The monthly PHILJA HRD sessions did not only focus on feeding the mind butthe soul as well through a Special Session on Spirituality, awarding of Certificates ofCommendations to deserving employees, celebrating the birthdays of PHILJA employeesand posting words of wisdom on the PHILJA Bulletin Board.

The year culminated with a fun-filled PHILJA Christmas Party held in TagaytayCity which contributed to teambuilding and boosted PHILJA’s “Oneness.” Again, cheersand blessings were spread to its adopted institution, the Bahay Kalinga Foundation ofOur Lady of Guadalupe Parish, through gift-giving and medical support through thekindness and efforts of PHILJA officials, professors and employees.

All these contributed to an improved organization characterized by efficiencyand a healthy inter and intra-unit relationship.

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PHILJA DPHILJA DPHILJA DPHILJA DPHILJA DEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENT

CCCCCENTERENTERENTERENTERENTER, I, I, I, I, INCNCNCNCNC.....

PHILJA DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC. (PDCI)

A. Subdivision Survey Plan, Technical Description and NewA. Subdivision Survey Plan, Technical Description and NewA. Subdivision Survey Plan, Technical Description and NewA. Subdivision Survey Plan, Technical Description and NewA. Subdivision Survey Plan, Technical Description and NewTitlesTitlesTitlesTitlesTitles

On 22 August 2005, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)Land Management Services approved the Subdivision Survey Plan of the PHILJADevelopment Center, Inc., with corresponding Technical Description. In accordancewith such plan and description, the property was divided into three (3) titles, all in thename of PHILJA Development Center, Inc. On 21 September 2005, the Registry ofDeeds of the City of Tagaytay issued Transfer Certificates of Title Nos. T-58260 covering17,878 sq.m., T-58261 for 7,667 sq.m., and T-58262 for 7,606 sq.m., and cancelled theold title, TCT No. T-50184 with an area of 33,151 sq.m.

B. IncomeB. IncomeB. IncomeB. IncomeB. Income

The income of the PDCI is primarily generated from the activities of the Academy heldat the Center. The income earned supports the operating expenses of the Corporation.From January to December 2005, its gross income from operations and other incomesuch as Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) remuneration, Philippine LongDistance Telephone, Co. (PLDT) dividend and bank interest income amounted to Php1,694,173.92, less total expenditures amounting to Php1,234,535.50, leaving a netincome of Php 459,638.42.

C. OperationsC. OperationsC. OperationsC. OperationsC. Operations

This year, the Board of Directors, who continue to serve without compensation, heldfive (5) meetings at the PHILJA Conference Room, Centennial Bldg., Supreme Court.The Directors approved and ratified the following:

1. Survey of the PDCI property in Tagaytay City;

2. Re-appointment of the PDCI Bids and Awards Committee (BAC);

3. Authority of Justice Antonio Martinez, as Executive Vice President, to signany document(s) for and on behalf of the PDCI, subject to ratification by theBoard;


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4. Application for the Non-Project Grant Assistance of Japan Countervalue Fund(NPGA-CVF) for submission to the Department of Finance; and

5. Contracting of the services of Decimal Pest Control to undertake theComprehensive Termite Control Program.

Considering that the income of the Corporation is limited to that obtained fromthe PHILJA trainings and seminars held at the Center, the Corporation is unable tofinance any major repairs, improvements, and maintenance of its property. Consequently,requests for minor repairs such as the repair of the roof damaged by heavy rains weredirected to the Maintenance Division of the Supreme Court. The Corporation dependson advances from the Supreme Court for major repairs as in the repair of the watertank.

D. Non-Holding of Annual Stockholders’ MeetingD. Non-Holding of Annual Stockholders’ MeetingD. Non-Holding of Annual Stockholders’ MeetingD. Non-Holding of Annual Stockholders’ MeetingD. Non-Holding of Annual Stockholders’ Meeting

On 1 July 2005, the Corporate Secretary filed with the Securities and ExchangeCommission (SEC) an Affidavit of Non-Holding of Annual Stockholders’ Meeting for theyear 2005 considering the limited operations of the Corporation, the ensuing financialdifficulties, and antecedent matters that needed attention.

E. Tripartite MeetingE. Tripartite MeetingE. Tripartite MeetingE. Tripartite MeetingE. Tripartite Meeting

On 11 March 2005, at the instance of the PDCI Board of Directors, a Tripartite Meetingwas held with the Chief Justice and the Senior Associate Justice as well as other courtofficials. Among the matters discussed were labor matters, financial assistance, andremodeling.

F. Approval of the NPGA-CVF ProjectF. Approval of the NPGA-CVF ProjectF. Approval of the NPGA-CVF ProjectF. Approval of the NPGA-CVF ProjectF. Approval of the NPGA-CVF Project

The Supreme Court sought the assistance of the Japanese government to upgradethe facilities of PHILJA that are presently inadequate to achieve its mission. Per officialadvice by the Department of Finance to the Chief Justice on 27 December 2005, theGovernment of Japan has approved the Php300M grant under the Non-Project GrantAssistance Counter Value Fund (NPGA-CVF) of Japan to finance the Constructionand Equipping of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) Development Center inTagaytay City.

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The Php300M ODA grant from the Japanese government will enable PHILJA toimprove the quality of judicial education and training through the provision of an efficientand modern environment conducive to learning. Justices, judges, lawyer-aspirants tojudicial posts, and court personnel will be the direct beneficiaries. Ultimately, the entirecountry will benefit from the efficient and effective delivery of justice.

G. 2005 Supreme Court G. 2005 Supreme Court G. 2005 Supreme Court G. 2005 Supreme Court G. 2005 Supreme Court En BancEn BancEn BancEn BancEn Banc Resolutions pertaining to PDCI Resolutions pertaining to PDCI Resolutions pertaining to PDCI Resolutions pertaining to PDCI Resolutions pertaining to PDCI

1. Resolution A.M. No. 95-8-08-SC, dated 11 January 2005, NOTED the letterof Justice Herrera regarding the submission of an Undertaking wherein thePDCI, through its Board of Directors, undertakes to pay to the Supreme Courttwo percent (2%) of the Center’s annual net income or 2% of the interest-free loan of Php350,000.00, whichever computation would yield a higheramount, payable at the end of each calendar year, until the full amount ofPhp350,000.00 shall have been fully paid, provided that it shall be fully paid atthe end of twenty (20) years.

2. Resolution A.M. No. 2004-35-SC, dated 11 October 2005, NOTED theanonymous complaint against Ms. Rowena Marinduque, Casual Utility WorkerII, assigned at the PHILJA Development Center in Tagaytay City.

3. Resolution A.M. No. 95-8-08-SC, dated 8 November 2005, NOTED the PHILJABoard of Trustees Resolution No. 05-20 on the “Proposed construction/renovation/rehabilitation of the judiciary training buildings of the Tagaytayfacilities of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA),” “Request to sourcethe remaining balance of the BCDA funds in the amount of Php42,437,943.74”and “create its own Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) specifically for theNPGA-CVF Project.”

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x x x One of the great rewards of moving on is the privilege of looking back - andI count as one of the trophies of my service as Chief Justice the achievements andsuccesses of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA). These I reckon, not as apersonal triumph but as a significant milestone all of us in the Philippine Judiciary haveachieved.

Excerpt from the Closing Remarks of theHonorable Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

entitled,“The Privilege of Looking Back and Seeing the Future”delivered at the 9 th Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. Distinguished Lecture

on 29 September 2005 at the San Beda College, Mendiola, Manila

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It simply means that the PHILJA currently stands as the crown jewel of thejudiciary. I stated in the beginning that the PHILJA enjoys the highest rating of all ourjudicial institutions per the survey of SWS made on lawyers and judges. Let me addthat the reputation of PHILJA as a trainor of judges has crossed our national boundariesand has caught international attention.

Excerpt from the Paper of Senior Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno,Supreme Court of the Philippines, entitled,“The Board of Trustees of PHILJA”

delivered at the 9 th Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. Distinguished Lecture on 29September 2005 at the San Beda College, Mendiola, Manila

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TESTIMONIALS


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x x x

Verily, you have played a major role in the successful implementation of thereform agenda we envisioned for the Judiciary. The PHILJA would not have been whatit is today without you. You have become an institution. Your assurances of unceasingdynamic efforts in further pursuit of our goals would keep me forever in great joy afterretirement.

Excerpt from the Letter of Chief Justice Hilario G.Davide, Jr. to Justice Ameurfina A. Melencio Herrera,

PHILJA Chancellor dated 3 October 2005

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I was deeply impressed by the splendid accomplishments of the Academy thusfar, as narrated by its distinguished officers, for which I hereby express my admirationand convey my compliments. The great strides now being taken by the Academy makeme doubly gratified that I played some part in its establishment and initial development,especially in the choice of the person to head it.

Excerpt from the Letter of Chief Justice Andres R.Narvasa (ret.) to Justice Ameurfina A. Melencio Herrera,

PHILJA Chancellor dated 10 October 2005

The Academy is one of the world leaders in developing judicial education.

Mr. George Thomson, Executive Director,National Judicial Institute of Canada

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x x x “after my stint on the Board, I have come to fully appreciate the significanceof the role of the Philippine Judicial Academy in steering the Judiciary to a better future,specifically in the formulation of quality educational and training modules which arepractical and adaptable to the times and the available resources.”

Excerpt from the Letter of Judge Ralph S. Lee,PHILJA-BOT Representative of the First Level Courts

of the Philippines to the PHILJA Board of Trustees dated 12 October 2005

On behalf of the Sandiganbayan Justices, may I commend the PHILJA underYour Honor’s leadership, for the very successful planning and organization of the basiccomputer training courses. The seminars were extremely helpful. All the participantscame away from the training fully informed and filled with renewed enthusiasm for theirwork.

Excerpt from the Letter of SandiganbayanPresiding Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro

to Justice Ameurfina A. Melencio Herrera,PHILJA Chancellor dated 12 December 2005


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