Trial courts nationwide are fully operational whether they are located in areas under Covid-19 Alert Level 1 or Alert Level 2.
In trial courts under Alert Level 1, all officials and personnel are reporting physically for work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. All judicial offices and services are open and available, and the operation of night courts are allowed.
In trial courts under Alert Level 2, at least 80 percent of officials and personnel are mandated to work on-site; night courts are not allowed; judicial offices are open; and services are available except those that need clearance due to restrictions imposed by local governments.
The schedule of operation of trial courts is contained in a circular issued by Court Administrator Raul Bautista Villanueva with the approval of the Supreme Court (SC) through Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.
Earlier, the SC had announced that all its offices are open from Monday to Friday on a four-day workweek. This means that there are officials and employees who will be on-site from Monday to Thursday and others from Tuesday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Those not working on Monday and Friday will work from home.
The Court of Appeals (CA) and the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) have adopted the work schedule being implemented by the SC.
In the case of the Sandiganbayan, being an appellate and trial court, heads of offices determine who will work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and who will work from home for one day during the week.