Only 15 percent of the total workforce in the Supreme Court (SC) will still be required to report physically from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting Friday, Oct. 1, “notwithstanding any modification of the alert level guidelines in Metro Manila.”
In a circular issued by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, officials and personnel who will not report physically will work from home as required.
Also, personnel who are required to report physically but who reside in areas under granular lockdown or in critical zones should be replaced by those residing in areas under lower alert levels.
There will be “no personal filing” of petitions. Filing can be done online or through couriers and the post office.
The 15 per cent workforce is required in the offices of the clerk of court (both full court and divisions), judicial records office, fiscal management office, office of administrative services both in the SC and the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), docket and clearance division of the Judicial Integrity Board, legal office of OCA, Philippine Judicial Academy, Philippine Mediation Center Office, office of the halls of justice and internal audit, and the SC health and welfare plan.
At least 30 percent of the total workforce is required in the office of the bar confidant and 50 percent in medical, dental, security and maintenance divisions.
“All reporting employees shall be monitored from time to time to ensure that they have no symptoms of COVID-19 infection throughout the day,” the circular stated.