Starting Tuesday, March 1, all courts in the National Capital Region (NCR) and in 38 other areas declared under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 are fully operational with 100 percent of officials and employees reporting physically for work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday until March 15.

Included in the full operation of courts are the Supreme Court (SC), Court of Appeals (CA) in Manila, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).

Under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15, aside from NCR, are Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Kalinga, Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela, Quirino, Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac, Cavite. Laguna, Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City, Romblon, Naga City, and Catanduanes.

In the Visayas, under Alert Level 1 are Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Siquijor, and Biliran.

Also under Alert Level 1 in Mindanao are Cagayan de Oro City, Zamboanga City, Camiguin, and Davao City.

Under Alert Level 1, there are no restrictions in terms of indoor and outdoor capacities. Everyone can undertake intrazonal and interzonal travel without regard to age and even comorbidities.

All establishments, persons, or activities are likewise allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at total on-site or venue seating capacity, provided these are consistent with minimum public health standards.

Face-to-face classes for primary education shall be subject to prior approval of the Office of the President.

At the SC on Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo said in offices with limited spaces, only 80 per cent of total personnel may be allowed to physically report for work.

Among these are the offices of the clerks of court, Philippine Judicial Academy, judicial records office, and legal office of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).

Gesmundo’s memorandum also stated: “The individual health condition of those reporting on-site will be thoroughly checked upon entering the SC premises. They must not have even the slightest symptoms.”

Personal filing of petitions, other pleadings, and court submissions are allowed at the SC.

At the CA in Manila, raffles of newly filed cases and hearings are allowed on-site “unless prior approval to conduct business via video conferencing is secured from the Presiding Justice,” the office order issued by Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar Fernando stated.

The orders on work arrangement in the Sandiganbayan and the CTA were issued by Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje Tang and Presiding Justice Roman G. Del Rosario, respectively.

For trial courts in areas under Alert Level 1, work operation was contained in a circular issued the OCA Officer-in-Charge Raul Bautista Villanueva.

In trial courts under Alert Level 2, only a maximum of 80 percent of total personnel is allowed to work on-site.

Under Alert Level 2 until March 15 are Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Batangas, Lucena City, Quezon Province, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

Under Alert Level 2 in the Visayas are Antique, Iloilo City, Iloilo Province, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu Province, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Negros Oriental, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, and Western Samar.

In Mindanao, under Alert Level 2 are City of Isabela, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao De Oro, Davao Del Sur, Davao Del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Butuan City, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City, and Lanao Del Sur.