CJ enjoins IBP’s active role in bringing judicial reforms

January 27, 2020 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 24 (PIA) – Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta enjoins members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to support and take active role in the reforms and programs he is pushing for the improvement of the judiciary.
Peralta, in his keynote message during the IBP’s 25th House of Delegates Convention here on Friday, outlined the key policies reforms he is pushing that are geared toward a continuously dynamic and progressive judiciary anchored on efficiency, integrity, security and service.
Peralta was appointed the 26th Chief Justice in October last year. His 10-point plan for the Supreme Court focus on the elimination of backlog of the SC and all courts in the country; continuous revision of the rule of court and other procedural rules; better emphasis on skills – based training for judges and court personnel; automation of court process; incorporation of court technology on hearings and trials; Ridding out of misfits in the judiciary; strengthening of the Office of the Court Administrator, in terms of effectively addressing the concern of the lower courts; Improvement of the security of judges and justices; setting up of 24/7 Help Desk in the Supreme Court which was already implemented; improvement on the procurement and bidding process in the Judiciary, and the creation of the Strategic Planning And Management Unit.
Peralta also encouraged the IBP members to heed the call of public service and join the government’s Judicial Branch. He disclosed that there are 695 vacant judge positions in the judiciary and with the implementation of the Judges at Large Act, 50 slots for roving judges have just been opened.
“There is a need for lawyers to heed the call of public service by applying as members of the defense and contributing to the administrative and adjudicative efficiency of our courts”, Peralta said, adding that the salary of judges is now competitive with lawyers in private practice.
In the same occasion, IBP hosted a testimonial lunch for the CJ. IBP I locos Norte Chapter President Bernie Francis Constantine, Governor for Northern Luzon Doorstep Aquila and Past IBP Governor for Southern Luzon Ramon Esguerra delivered the testimonial messages while IBP officials and convention delegates from the different parts of the country offered a toast for Justice Peralta in support of his SC leadership and judiciary reform programs towards the realization of “Justice Bilis, not Justice Tiis”.
 
JDP/CCD-PIA CAR