NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } 
First Regular Session 
}
of thf
•22 JUL-7 P5-45
RECEIVED BV;
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 214
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
"AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE JUDICIAL 
DEPARTMENT, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
A strong judiciary provides both our state and its citizens an efficient and effective 
means to enforce rights, get reparations for tresspasses, and receive reliefs provided 
for in law. However, the state of the Philippine's Judicial Department is sorely 
lackluster as compared to other jurisdictions. Unlike its two other coequal branches of 
government, the Judiciary suffers from a sorry lack of funding and is habitually denied 
the requests it makes during the budget process which barely enables it to maintain 
the makeshift houses of justice we see all over the country, let alone serve as the final 
arbiter of conflicts of rights and the interpreter of vagueness in law.
The lack of proper and modern facilities, along with the lack of budget to support the 
honorable members of the judiciary has led to widespread injustice and delays in 
litigation. Commonplace is the situation wherein multiple judges are left to occupy the 
same court rooms and offices making it difficult for the administration of sound and 
swift orders from courts of all levels. Hearings, by which the rights of persons are 
determined, and where facts become ascertained, are usually delayed months at a


time due to the unavailability of either court personnel or the facilities required. 
Litigants are currently left to wait years in order to vindicate themselves or claim what 
is legally theirs making the court process unadvisable unless it is of the direst of 
circumstances.
Given this situation, it is high time that the Legislative branch of our government enact 
measures which will allow the judiciary to develop in the same manner as different 
agencies or components of the executive. By strengthening the Judiciary, the 
Philippines may rest easy that we remain a country ruled by law and not by the 
caprices of the unjust.
It is for this purpose that the approval of this bill is earnestly sought
a Tulfo
Senat


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } 
First Regular Session 
}
I
SENATE
•22 JUL-7 P5 45
RECEIVED BY;
Senate Bill No.
214
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
"AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE JUDICIAL 
DEPARTMENT, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines, 
in Congress assembied:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Judiciary Modernization
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Act of 2022."
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SECTION 2. Deciaration of Poiicy- It Is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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Implement a modernization program for the Judicial Department which has, for its end
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view, its improvement into a more efficient, reliable, competent, technologically adaptive,
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and modern judicial department that grants ease of access and security of transactions
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in the institution, litigation, and resolution of civil, criminal, and special proceedings in
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order to promote better enforcement of obligations, both between private persons and
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natural or juridical persons with the state together with a swifter and more accurate
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determination of genuine conflicts in interpretation of the law as well as the more


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responsive exercise of extraordinary judicial powers vested by the Constitution to the 
Judiciary.
SECTION 3. Components of the Judiciary Modernization Program - The Judiciary 
modernization program shall consist of the following components:
a. Infrastructure Development and Facility Modernization - The objectives of this 
component are:
1. Acquisition, titling, and management of land and other real estate by 
the national government dedicated exclusively for the construction of 
structures wherein each branch of the Regional Trial Court, Metropolitan 
Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts are 
to be individually situated eliminating the need for shared salas, 
courtrooms, and other physical spaces between independent branches.
2. Upgrading, modernization, and streamlining of facilities dedicated to the 
support and execution of judicial functions such as but not limited to 
offices of the court staff, offices of the clerks of court, offices of the 
sheriff, offices of the judicial marshals, and private chambers of judges 
and executive judges.
3. Development, procurement, and management of secure, reliable, and 
cost-efficient information technology systems that promote ease of 
transaction, allow for automation, and ensures integration of existing 
systems for case management and document retrieval essential to or 
related to the conduct of judiciary functions.


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b. Equipment Upgrading, Acquisition and Maintenance - The objectives of this 
component are:
1. Provision to all courts of the most reliable and technologically modern 
internet and telephone connectivity to allow for attendance in remote 
hearings by parties who are determined to participate in court 
proceedings by the rules set forth by the Supreme Court.
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Acquisition and provision of modern computer or computer systems to 
allow for faster execution of judicial functions to all relevant personnel 
of the judicial department.
3. Acquisition of data and information technology systems necessary to 
allow submission of documents through means of internet connectivity 
provided that the data and information technology systems ensure 
integrity of data upon submission and reliability of ascertaining the fact 
of receipt by all parties concerned In the transaction.
c. Personnel Development, Welfare, and Protection - The objectives of this 
component is the hiring of additional qualified personnel, the continuous 
education of all qualified employees, and the assurance of security for all 
members of the judicial department whose lives and physical well-being are at 
risk by malefactors seeking to unjustly harm personnel in the course of 
performing their duties.
SECTION 4. Submission of the Judicial Modernization Program - Within ninety (90) 
days from the effectivity of this act, the Court Administrator, upon approval by the Chief 
Justice, and with notice to the Department of Justice (DOJ), after consultation with the 
executive judges, presiding justices, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)


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, and the Department of Finance (DOF), shall submit the Judiciary Modernization Program 
to the Judicial Modernization Oversight Committee created under this Act, for its 
consideration, which shall indicate the following:
a. The number of personnel, inventory, valuation and useful life of facilities and 
equipment currently In use and owned by the Judicial Department in the 
exercise of their judicial functions.
b. The modernization projects and activities under the program to be undertaken 
and the corresponding component and objectives to which the projects are 
directed to fulfill.
c. The order of priority, the schedule of implementation, and the corresponding 
phases of Implementation of the modernization projects and activities.
d. The estimated cost of each modernization project or activity to be undertaken.
SECTION 5. Means of Procurement - All other laws governing government 
procurement notwithstanding, the Judicial Department shall procure the necessary 
property taking Into consideration the following policies and principles:
a. The Judicial Department shall give preference to domestic entitles that are 
qualified to participate In the procurement activities to be undertaken under 
this act.
b. The Office of the Court Administrator shall determine the specific minimum 
standards for items, equipment, and technology, and information systems to 
be submitted for approval of the Chief Justice. The Office of the Court 
Administrator shall be mandated to ensure that the minimum standards set is


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responsive to the needs of the Judicial Department and shall ensure usability 
of all procured items for a period of more than ten (10) years.
c. The Court Administrator in the implementation of any and all of the provisions 
of this act, with the approval of the Chief Justice may enter into multi-year 
contracts and other contractual arrangements providednone of the multi­
year contracts and other contractual arrangements shall be the most favorable 
arrangement for the government.
d. Congress shall, upon the Issuance of a multi-year obligation authority by the 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and certification by the 
president, make the corresponding appropriation for the ensuing fiscal year. 
The Office of the Court Administrator, upon approval of the Chief Justice, shall 
Issue implementing guidelines that shall ensure consistency with the Judicial 
Modernization Program and existing guidelines in the contracting of multi-year 
projects.
e. The Office of the Court Administrator shall submit to the Judicial Modernization 
Oversight Committee created under this act, the Secretary of Finance and the 
Secretary of Budget and Management, copies of all multi-year contracts and 
other agreements to enable Congress to appropriate funds. The funds 
appropriated for the Judicial Modernization Program shall be treated by the 
Court Administrator as a distinct and separate budget item from the regular 
appropriation of the Judiciary Department.
SECTION 6. Fund Augmentation from the Provincial, City, and Municipal 
Governments for Halls of Justice and other structures dedicated to the execution of the 
duty of the Judicial Department - It shall be mandatory for the provincial, city, and 
municipal governments to automatically allocate at least five percent (5%) of its annual


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appropriations earmarked for local development projects, sourced from its internal 
revenue allocation as its annual fund augmentation to support priority projects and 
activities of Halls of Justices and other structures dedicated to the execution of the duty 
of the Judicial Department embodied in their territorial jurisdiction.
SECTION 7. Period of Implementation - The Judicial Reorganization and 
Modernization Program shall be implemented over a period of ten (10) years. The 
payment for amortization of outstanding multi-year contract obligations incurred under 
this act may extend beyond such period.
SECTION 8. Congressional Judicial Modernization Oversight Committee - There is 
hereby created the Judicial Modernization Oversight Committee to monitor and oversee 
the implementation of the provisions of this act. The committee shall be composed of six 
(6) members from the House of Representatives and six (6) members from the Senate 
with the Chairpersons of the Committee on Justice of both Houses as Joint Chairpersons. 
The five (5) other members from each chamber shall be designated by the Speaker of 
the House and the Senate President, respectively with the minority having at least two 
(2) representatives from both Chambers.
SECTION 9. Review. - Within five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, the 
Judicial Modernization Oversight Committee shall conduct a review or evaluation of the 
accomplishments and effect of the Judicial Modernization Program for the purpose of 
determining remedial legislation.
SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Office of the Court 
Administrator, upon approval of the Chief Justice, shall promulgate the necessary rules 
and regulations within one hundred twenty (120) days from the approval of this Act for 
Its effective Implementation.


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SECTION 11. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full 
force and effect.
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause- All laws, executive orders, rules, and regulations 
Inconsistent with or contrary to this act, are hereby deemed accordingly repealed or 
modified.
SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national 
circulation.
Approved.