Six new courtrooms for regional trial courts (RTCs), one of them for a “deaf-friendly” court, have been inaugurated by the Supreme Court (SC) in Bacoor City in Cavite.
The new courtrooms in Main Square Mall in Barangay Bayanan in Bacoor City are for RTC Branches 114 to 119. Branch 115, with Judge Charisma I. Nolasco as the presiding judge, is the “deaf-friendly” court.
The SC said the court staff of Judge Nolasco studied basic sign language and can now communicate with deaf litigants.
SC Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda and Jose Midas P. Marquez led the inauguration of the new courtrooms last week.
In his message, Justice Zalameda emphasized that the inauguration “reflects a shared vision for a fair and efficient justice system, reinforcing the Judiciary’s commitment to accessibility and excellence.”
Zalameda said: “Accessibility ensures that justice is truly available. Having the proper facility for our trial courts improves court efficiency and prevents delayed proceedings.... Greater efficiency means better service to our people.”
Better service means ensuring that persons with disability have access to the courts, the SC’s Office of the Spokesperson said in a press briefer.
It said a “deaf-friendly” court contributes to the SC’s goal of attaining equal and inclusive justice under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022- 2027 (SPJI).
The inauguration of the six courtrooms was also attended by Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Deputy Court Administrator Leo Tolentino Madrazo, SC Spokesperson lawyer Camille Sue Mae L. Ting, RTC Bacoor Executive Judge Amalia Gumapos-Ricablanca, and other judges and court personnel of the RTC and municipal trial courts in cities in Bacoor City.
They were joined by Bacoor City Mayor Strike B. Revilla, Department of Justice Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Miguel Gudio Jr., prosecutors, and other local government officials.
In 2004, the SC authorized the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), to act on and approve requests of trial courts to hire sign language interpreters to assist in court proceedings.
The 2004 directive was further enhanced through OCA Circular No. 104-2007.
Later in 2022, the SC allowed deaf and mute witnesses and litigants in courts and their sign language interpreters to appear during court proceedings via videoconferencing.