MANILA — As one of the several judicial reforms implemented under her term in the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro has ordered an increase in the salary of first-level court judges nationwide.
De Castro approved the recommendation of Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez to increase the salary of judges ahead of the issuance of the Notice of Organization, Staffing and Compensation Action (NOSCA), and issuance of funds by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“The Office of the Court Administrator, through the Financial Management Office, will use the lower courts’ savings deposited in the Local Bank Account to augment the requirement for the grant of the above mentioned upgrading of positions effective 1 July 2018, pending the issuance of NOSCA and release of corresponding funds by the DBM,” Marquez said in his memorandum to de Castro.
In a resolution issued by the High Court dated Sept. 11, the salary grade of judges in municipal trial courts, municipal circuit trial courts, municipal trial courts in cities and shari’a circuit courts, from grade 26 and 27 will be increased to 28.
This means that the judges’ monthly salaries will increase from PHP102,000 to PHP114,000 and PHP127,000 effective last July 1, under the third tranche of increases in salaries of government personnel this year. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
