Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.B.No, 249

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

" EXPLANATORY NOTE

In October, 2003, the President of the Philippines signed into law Republic Act No. 9227,
which granted special allowances to the members of the Judiciary equivalent to one hundred

percent (100%) of their monthly basic salary, to be implemented on a staggered basis in a span
of four (4) years.

Despite the grant of special allowances, however, the justices and Judges still cannot be
considered adequately compensated for the sensitive duties and responsibilities that their
positions entail. Even if the special allowances will be at a 100% implementation, the income of
Justices and Judges will still not be at par with the income of an average law practitioner.

Receiving even lower salaries are the lawyers in the Judiciary who are neither Justices
nor Judges. They are placed in a grossly inferior position, as they were left out in RA. No,
9227

‘The low compensation of the members of the Bench and the other lawyers in the
Judiciary drives away bright and promising lawyers. Even with the enactment of R.A. No. 9227,
filling up of vacancies continues to be a major problem. And, as a necessary consequence,
case backlogs continue to soar.

We must face the obvious problem - we need more judges and lawyers in the Judiciary.
To entice the good and bright lawyers to these positions, we need to beef up their
compensation package.

With the aforementioned premises, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

iA,
JUAN \GARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA
Representative

Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

243

H.B. No.

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
ADOPTING A SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE BENCH AND
OTHER LAWYERS IN THE JUDICIARY, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared a policy of the State to adopt
effective measures to ensure an independent, responsive and efficient Judiciary, worthy of
public trust and confidence. Accordingly, this Act aims to:

a. Raise the level of competence and ensure the integrity of the Justices, Judges
and lawyers in the Judiciary; and improve the compensation system for the
members of the Bench, including court personnel, to be able to attract the best
and the brightest to the Judiciary

b, _ Improve the compensation system for the members of the Bench, including court
personnel, to be able to attract the best and the brightest to the Judiciary.

SEC. 2. Salary Schedule of the Members of the Bench and the Lawyers in the
Judiciary. - All Justices, Judges and lawyers in the Judiciary shall receive the following monthly
salaries in accordance with their respective salary grades under Republic Act No. 6758, as
amended, otherwise known as the Salary Standardization Law:

Salary | Step? | Step2 | Step3 | Step4 | Step5 | Step6 | Step7 | Steps
Grade

23 40,040 | 41,041 | 42,067 | 43,119 | 44,197 | 46,302 | 46,434 | 47,595

24 41,646 | 42,667 | 43,754 | 44,848 | 45,969 | 47,119 | 48,297 | 49,595

25 43,310 | 44,393 | 45,503 | 46,640 | 47,606 | 49,001 | 50,226 | 51,482

26 45,042 | 46,168 | 47,322 | 48,505 | 49,718 | 50,961 | 52,235 | 53,541

27 46,844 | 48,015 | 49,215 | 50,448 | 51,707 | 53,000 | $4,325 | 55,603



ony step1 | Step2 | Step3 | Step4 | Step5 | Step6 | Step7 | Step8

28 48,718 | 49,936 | 51,164 | 52,464 | 58,776 | 55,120 | 56,498 | 57,910

29 50,666 | 51,933 | 53,231 | 54,562 | 55,926 | 57,324 | 58,767 | 60,226

30 57,750 | 59,194 | 60,674 | 62,190 | 63,745 | 65,339 | 66,972 | 68,647

oY 80,850 | 82,871 | 84,943 | 87,087 | 89,243 | 91,474 | 93,761 | 96,105

32 92,400 | 94,710 | 97,078 | 99,505 | 101,962 | 104,542 | 107,156 | 109,835

SEC. 3. Coverage, -The salary schedule set forth in Section 2 of this Act shall

exclusively pertain to those positions in the Judiciary requiring, as a minimum qualification,
admission to the Philippine Bar.

SEC. 4. - Limitations. - Positions in government offices other than the Judiciary that are
equal in rank to the above positions, or are given the same rank and privileges of the above

positions under existing laws, shall not be covered by the salary schedules provided in Section
2 hereof.

SEC. 5. - Incentive Scheme. - To carry out the declared policy of this Act, the Office of
the Court Administrator is hereby authorized, in coordination with the Department of Budget and
Management, to prepare and adopt an incentive scheme for officers and employees in the
Judiciary not otherwise covered by Sections 2 and 3 of this Act.

SEC. 6. Fund Source. - The amounts necessary to carry out initially the provisions of
this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Judiciary; and should such
amount be inadequate, the needed balance shall be taken from any funds in the National
Treasury not otherwise appropriated and partly from the Judiciary Development Fund,
Thereafter, such funds as may be needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be
included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Implementing Guidelines- The Supreme Court shall issue the necessary
guidelines, ill coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, for the proper
implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days from approval hereof.

SEC. 8, Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.



SEC. 9, Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect,

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,