SC CIRCULAR NO. 54-98, October 15, 1998

The Supreme Court En Bane by a Resolution dated August 18, 1998 in
Administrative Matter No.98-8-01-SC created and put in operation the Supreme
Court Health and Welfare Plan. The Plan provides for medical assistance in the
maximum amounts of P50,000.00 for major surgical operation or medical case;
P30.000.00 for minor surgical operation or medical case and P10,000.00 for
dental and optical needs. Burial aid in the amount of P20.000.00 is also
provided for. An Ad Hoc Committee created by Chief Justice Andres R. Narvasa
through Administrative Order No. 1-98-SC lias been constituted as the hiterim
Board of Directors and administering body of the Plan.

The officers and employees, as well as the Judges, of the lower courts are
included in the Plan. The initial funding will be sourced from savings generated
from appropriations for the Supreme Court and the Judiciary Development Fund.
Subsequent funds will come from the same sources in per quarter contributions
and from the members who shall be required to contribute monthly the amount of
Fifty (P50.00) Pesos to be deducted from their paychecks.

The Interim Board of Directors has decided to implement the Plan for the
lower courts starting January 1999 in order to give the Judges, officers and
employees enough time to file their membership information papers which shall
also serve as the authorization for the monthly payroll deduction. Only those
who have filed their membership information papers can avail themselves of the
benefits under the Plan.

Attached are the rules on membership in the Plan; the form for membership
information and authorization sheet; the rules on the health and burial
benefits; the form for application for benefits under the Plan and the list of
requirements for such application This circular and its attachments shall be
posted prominently in the workplace and the forms should be recopied for
distribution to the employees of the court.

Supplementary to the requirements listed in the rules on benefits are the
requirements that the application for benefits shall be subscribed and swornt.by
the applicant or his/her representative before the Presiding/Acting Judge of the
court in applicant or his/her representative before the Presiding/Acting Judge
of the court in which the applicant is employed at the time of illness or death;
and that in cases of major surgical operation or medical case and minor surgical
operation or medical caase, the application for leave of absence during the
illness, signed by the Presiding/Acting Judge, shall be appended to the
application for benefits.

The accomplishement and forwarding to the Office of Administrative Services
of the OCA of the Memebership Information and Authorization Sheet of those
joining the Plan in time for its implemtation in January 1999 us hereby
directed.

___October 15__,1998