House mulls P2.8-B budget hike for courts in 2023
The House Committee on Appropriations is bent on approving a P2.8-billion budget increase for the judiciary for the purpose of hiring and training of additional personnel that would help automate the courts’ processes.
Marikina 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo, senior vice chairperson of the House panel that conducts hearings on the proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023, said on Thursday, Sept. 1, that a lot of her colleagues have expressed “deep support” for the request for a budget reconsideration for the judiciary.
Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez made a similar manifestation.
“I’m, therefore, constrained to move for the approval of the request of the judiciary, Mr. Chairman, because, as stated by the Constitution, the importance of the judiciary, our justices, and judges, and the court personnel all over the country, Mr. Chairman. I, therefore, move that we approve the P2.8 billion budget increase,” he said after hearing the resource speakers.
The request for a budget reconsideration by the judiciary came after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) slashed its proposed budget of P74 billion down to only P52 billion.
The veteran lawmaker from Mindanao called this budget “slash” unconstitutional.
Court Administrator Raul Villanueva, chief of the Office of the Court Administrator, which supervises all lower courts in the country, said that the P21-billion reduction by the DBM would affect personal benefits, expenses for rent, lease, maintenance for the procurement of equipment, and capital outlay.
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Noting that the judiciary “is composed of wise men and reasonable men", Rodriguez said that they are also only being “reasonable and wise” in requesting only 10 percent of the P2.8 billion.
“That is a sign that they understand the situation and that they are willing to continue with the best services of our Supreme Court,” he stressed during the hearing.
Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee encouraged his colleagues to grant the entire P21 billion slashed by the DBM so the courts can modernize the court.
“Hindi naman nakakahiya ang ating mga courts (Our courts will not be embarrassing) and also for the training of their personnel,” the lawmaker said.
Of the P2.8-billion budget increase, P1.87 billion would be allocated for the SC, lower courts, and personnel; P567 million for the Court of Appeals (CA), and P124 million for the Sandiganbayan.