Manila, Philippines (PNA) –- The Palace hopes that its co-equal branch, the Judiciary, will still perform its task well despite continued budget woes.

The Palace’s proposed budget for the judiciary is only P14.3 billion, as against the P27.1 billion that the judiciary originally proposed.

”We’re confident that inspite of the scarcity of resources, our judges and court personnel will continue to perform their work at the utmost level of competence,” Coloma said in a press briefing.

In 2007, the judiciary received 0.76 percent of the national budget; 0.88 percent in 2008; and 0.94 percent in 2009.

According to court administrator and Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez, the budget cut in the proposed budget will affect funds allocated for personnel services, retirees, health allowances for workers and proposed budget for capital outlay.

”In total, if we will include pensions and adjustments to pensions of judiciary, the total outlay for judiciary is 1 percent of the shade of the budget,” Coloma said.

Despite the meager budget allocation, Coloma said the Palace still expects that the co-equal branch will still support the plan to reform the judiciary, one of the priority programs of the Aquino administration.

”It is our expectation that they will continue to do their work at the utmost level and that they will support our program of strengthening the judiciary,” he added.