The Supreme Court (SC) welcomed President Marcos’ signing into law of Republic Act No. 12233, the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act, which strengthens the independence, efficiency, and accountability of the courts.

RA 12233 was signed into law on Thursday, August 14, by the President who said the law will ensure that the judiciary can serve the public “without fear, without favor, and without anyone holding them by the purse strings.”

The President also said that RA 12233 will allow the judiciary to hire more personnel, repair courtrooms, and modernize systems without delays.

Under RA 12233, the SC will submit directly to Congress the judiciary’s annual budget.

The law assures that the judiciary’s budget cannot be reduced below the previous year’s allocation.

It also guarantees monthly releases of the budget with authority from the Chief Justice -- Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo -- through a full court resolution. The funds will be allocated where they are most needed.

The monthly portion of the budget will be automatically released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) without the need of additional paperwork or approvals.

To promote transparency and accountability, the SC is required to report quarterly to both the Executive and Legislative branches on how the funds were spent.

In a statement issued by its Office of the Spokesperson, the SC said RA 12233 strengthens the constitutional guarantee under Article VIII, Section 3 of the Constitution, which states that the Judiciary shall enjoy fiscal autonomy.

It said the judiciary’s current budget covers both national and regional operations, with the creation of the Office of Regional Court Managers across judicial regions.

It also said that all revenues and expenditures of the judiciary, including those from the newly established Judiciary Trust Fund, will remain subject to post-audit by the Commission on Audit (COA).

RA 12233, the SC said, strengthens the judiciary’s authority to address shortages in its workforce by requiring the DBM to act within 120 days on the SC’s requests for the issuance of the Notice of Organization, Staffing, and Compensation Action (NOSCA) for newly created positions.

Thus, it also said the law ensures the SC’s power to determine the number and types of court personnel needed, within its budget and in line with constitutional and legislative policies.

At the same time, the SC said the law facilitates the transfer of ownership of properties acquired for the judiciary to the SC, ensuring better control and management of its assets.

The SC will draft the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) in consultation with the DBM and COA, within six months from the law’s effectivity.

It said the law is supportive of the five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations which has been implemented since 2022.

During the signing of RA 12233, the President was joined in Malacanang by Senate President Francis G. Escudero and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

Also present were Senators Joel Villanueva and Alan Peter S. Cayetano; Representatives Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, David C. Suarez, Janette L. Garin, and Marcelino C. Libanan; and Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin.

Chief Justice Gesmundo was with Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Rodil V. Zalameda, Samuel H. Gaerlan, Ricardo R. Rosario, Jhosep Y. Lopez, Japar B. Dimaampao, Jose Midas P. Marquez, Antonio T. Kho, Jr., and Raul B. Villanueva.