Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno authorized on Thursday the release of at least P7,500 emergency economic allowance (EEA) each to all employees of the judiciary to help them cope with the devastations caused by typhoon Ondoy.

Puno said the EEA would be sourced from the available funds and savings of the judiciary.

At the same time, Puno initiated the contribution of money from all offices in the Supreme Court (SC) for the purchase of relief goods for court personnel affected by the recent typhoon.

The distribution of the relief goods will start today in areas severely hit by floods like those in the cities of Malabon, Pasig, and Marikina, and the towns of Cainta and San Mateo and Antipolo City in Rizal. Work in the trial courts in these areas had earlier been suspended indefinitely by Puno.

The executive judges and presiding judges of the courts in those areas are given the discretion to decide when normal court sessions will resume. They are also directed to report to Court Administrator Jose P. Perez the conditions in their respective courts.

At the same time, Puno directed the justices and chiefs of office and services of the Supreme Court; the presiding justices of the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and the Court of Tax Appeals; and all executive judges and presiding judges of other lower courts (regional trial courts, metropolitan trial courts, municipal trial courts, municipal trial courts in cities, and municipal circuit trial courts) to relax the rules on attendance of court personnel and to take into consideration and properly record absences and tardiness incurred on account of typhoon Ondoy.