P5.7-B budget hike for judiciary eyed; Romero hopes for 'quicker disposition of cases'
The entire judiciary will receive a total of P5.7 billion in additional funds under the proposed national budget for next year, 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero disclosed on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Romero, who is now the chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, said the huge increase is included in the proposed P5.268-trillion 2023 “Agenda for Recovery” national budget received by Congress last month.
“I have no doubt that the House will support the adjustment, which we hope would allow the judiciary to meet its requirements for a quicker disposition of cases and faster dispensation of justice,” Romero said.
The House committee on appropriations held on Thursday morning a hearing on the proposed bugdet for the Supreme Court (SC), Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals (CA), Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), Regional Trial Courts (RTCs), and lower courts that comprised the judiciary.
A statement from Romero’s office cited the SC, RTCs and lower courts, which are lumped together, are allocated “new appropriations” amounting to P41.923 billion, higher by P2.203 billion than this year’s P39.720 billion.
The Sandiganbayan, CA, CTA, and Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) have their own separate funding allocations.
The lawmaker’s office also noted the new funds for the Sandigan, an increase of P482 million, from P1.593 billion this year to P2.074 billion next year.
It added the CA among the courts will receive the highest increase of P2.988 billion, with its outlay jumping from P3.504 billion this year to P6.492 billion in 2023.
The adjustment of more than P2 billion in the CA’s capital outlay, from P532.3 million this year to P2.678 billion in 2023, largely accounts for the budget hike.
On the other hand, the PET will get P167.3 million next year, higher than this year’s P157.3 million.
Romero said total new appropriations for the entire judiciary in 2023 will total P51.432 billion, P5.7 billion or 12.46 percent higher than this year’s P45.735 billion.
“It’s the largest budget increase for the judiciary in recent years,” the former deputy speaker said.
He added that the judicial branch had P44.109 billion last year and P40.163 billion in 2020.