The House Committee on Appropriations terminated today the hearing for the proposed P43.54-billion Judiciary budget for 2021 even as bipartisan support was pledged for an additional P6.58-billion funding to boost virtual court hearings and other legal proceedings as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten public health.
In the budget hearing presided over by Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Dalipe, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez disclosed that the Judiciary’s original budget proposal of P55.88 billion for 2021 was reduced by P12.34 billion, leaving the country’s courts with only P43.54 billion to finance next year’s operations.
Marquez said the SC is appealing for the restoration of at least P6.58 billion which will include expenditures to upgrade the Internet connectivity of the country’s courts. He said that since the start of the pandemic last March, courts were enjoined to conduct on-line hearings of pending cases.
Over 100,000 court sessions have been conducted for an 87 percent success rate.
Marquez said that notwithstanding COVID-19’s public health threat, various courts in the country were able to release from detention more than 60,000 Persons Deprived of Liberty.
Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta personally saw to it that the pandemic will not slow down efforts of the Judiciary to resolve cases on time.
According to Marquez, by restoring portion of the slashed budget, the 13 percent of virtual court trials and conferences that were hampered by technical difficulties will be addressed.
A bigger portion of the requested budget restoration will finance, among others, the pension gratuity fund, P2.4 billion; COVID-related expenditures, P400 million; maintenance of Halls of Justice, P558 milllion; additional allocations for expenditures of the Court of Appeals, P994.5 million; Sandiganbayan, P406.4 million; Court of Tax Appeals,P98.5 million, and President Electoral Tribunal, P15.35 million.
Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers partylist Rep. France Castro said lawmakers acknowledge the funding problems that have adversely affected the swift dispensation of justice in the country.
“I move that the requested restoration of funds be granted,” she urged colleagues.
Joining the call for the restoration of the P6.58-billion funding were Deputy Speaker and Misamis Oriental Rep. Henry Oaminal; Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon Rep. Jayjay Suarez, and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Reform.
“More than ever in this times of pandemic, we need a strong Judiciary. I strongly support the augmentation of P6.58 billion,” said Rodriguez.