DELINEATING THE TRAINING FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL ACADEMY, THE OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, THE EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, OFFICE OF ADMINISTR…

WHEREAS, there is a need to avoid
duplication or overlapping of training programs and activities conducted
by the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), the Office of the Court
Administrator (OCA), the Employee Training and Development Division of
the Office of Administrative Services (ETDD-OAS), the Program Management
Office (PMO), the Court of Appeals (CA), the Sandiganbayan (SB) and the
Court of Tax Appeals (CTA);

WHEREAS, by virtue of Administrative
Order No. 35″96 dated 12 March 1996 and Republic Act No. 8557 enacted
on 26 February 1998, the PHILJA serves as the educational arm of the
Supreme Court tasked with the formulation and implementation of a
continuing program of judicial education for justices, judges, court
personnel and lawyers, and aspirants to judicial posts;

WHEREAS, Administrative Order No.
35-96 clearly envisions an institutionalized, integrated,
professionalized, and continuing system of judicial education for
justices, judges, and court personnel and lawyers (2nd Whereas clause,
A.O. No. 35″96, 12 March 1996);

WHEREAS, in Resolution No. A.M. No.
99-7-02-SC PHILJA, dated 6 July 1999, the Supreme Court included
quasi-judicial agencies, as well as the Commission on Elections, in the
continuing education program of PHILJA;

WHEREAS, PHILJA is also an
accredited training institution of the Civil Service Commission (CSC)
pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 99-2510 dated 11 November 1999;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1, Rule
VIII of the Omnibus Civil Service Rules Implementing Book V of E.O. No.
292 and Other Pertinent Civil Service Laws, the Supreme Court created
the ETDD-OAS to provide initiative and assistance in the development and
retention of a qualified and efficient workforce in the Supreme Court,
including the Office of the Court Administrator;

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court, in
Administrative Circular No. 9-2001, created a Personnel Development
Committee (PDC) pursuant to the Court’s 14 November 2000 Resolution in
A.M. No. 00-10-08-SC and CSC Memorandum Circular No. 34, s. 1994;

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court En Banc,
in Resolution No. 01-4-10-SC, dated 4 May 2001, issued the Policies and
Guidelines in Human Resource Development Programs;

WHEREAS, in PDC Resolution No.
31-2001, dated 14 September 2001, which was duly approved by the Chief
Justice on 18 September 2001, the ETDD-OAS was authorized to conduct
in-house trainings and seminars to afford its officials and employees
opportunities for professional development and skills enhancement for a
more effective delivery of judicial and public service;

WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No.
828, as amended by PD No. 842, established the OCA to assist the Supreme
Court in the exercise of its administrative supervision over all
courts, with powers, functions and responsibilities determined and
defined by the Supreme Court (Section 1 in relation to Sec. 6 of PD No.
828, dated 18 November 197.5, as amended by PD No. 842, dated 12
December 1975);

WHEREAS, Section 11 of A.O. No.
35-96, dated 12 March 1996, provides: “All existing programs for
orientation, career development and continuing judicial education being
undertaken by the Court through the Office of the Court Administrator
are hereby assigned to PHILJA”;

WHEREAS, SC Circular No. 30-91,
dated 30 September 1991, prescribing the Guidelines on the Functions of
the Office of the Court Administrator, authorizes the Court
Administrator to provide “technical support and assistance in personnel
trainings, seminars, dialogues and other development programs for judges
and court personnel approved by the Court”;

WHEREAS, A.M. No. 01-7-09-SC, dated
17 July 2001, established the Project Management Office to have the
overall responsibility of carrying out the Judicial Reform Program, and
this office was reorganized and renamed as the Program Management Office
(PMO) per Administrative Order No. 71-2001, dated 30 August 2001; and

WHEREAS, presently, the PHILJA, OCA,
ETDD-OAS, PMO, CA, SB, and CTA conduct their own specific programs
thereby resulting in overlapping or duplication of training programs and
activities.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Court RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED, to issue the following guidelines on the matter in issue:

The term collaboration or coordination includes, but
is not limited to, consultation, prior approval, or assistance in the
preparation of training design and modules; recommendation and selection
of participants, trainers or consultants; conduct of training; post
evaluation; and funding.

These Guidelines shall apply to all training
programs, seminars, workshops, and activities intended for justices,
judges, court personnel, and lawyers of all court levels and of
quasi-judicial bodies.

This Administrative Circular shall take effect upon its issuance. Issued this 11th day of November 2003.