Facts:

• Meatmasters International Corporation (petitioner) engaged the services of Lelis Integrated Development Corporation (respondent) to construct a slaughterhouse and meat cutting and packing plant.
• Construction agreement stated that the project should be completed by March 10, 1994.
• Respondent failed to finish the construction within the agreed period.
• Petitioner filed a complaint for rescission of contract and damages on August 9, 1996, before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Pasig City, Branch 68.
• On November 23, 1998, the RTC rendered a decision rescinding the construction agreement between the parties.
• Respondent received a copy of the decision on December 9, 1998.
• Respondent filed a motion for reconsideration on December 22, 1998, but it was denied.
• Respondent filed a notice of appeal on March 29, 1999.
• Trial court initially dismissed the appeal due to late payment of docket fees.
• Trial court reconsidered and accepted the appeal because respondent paid the docket fees on April 30, 1999.
• Petitioner filed a motion to dismiss before the Court of Appeals, arguing that the appeal suffered from a jurisdictional infirmity due to the late payment of docket fees.
• Court of Appeals set aside the trial court's decision and directed the petitioner to pay the respondent a certain amount.
• Petitioner filed a petition for review before the Supreme Court, questioning the Court of Appeals' decision.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petitioner.
• Trial court acted without jurisdiction in giving due course to the appeal.
• Payment of docket fees within the prescribed period is mandatory for the perfection of an appeal.
• Court acquires jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action only upon the payment of the correct amount of docket fees, regardless of the actual date of filing the case in court.
• Full payment of the docket fee is a requirement for the perfection of an appeal.
• Respondent filed the notice of appeal on time but paid the docket fees one month after the appeal period had lapsed.
• By the time the docket fees were paid, the trial court's decision had already become final and no longer appealable.
• Trial court's acceptance of the late payment effectively extended the period to appeal, which was not allowed.
• Failure to perfect an appeal within the prescribed period is not only mandatory but also jurisdictional, rendering the questioned decision final and executory.
• Respondent's argument that the petitioner is estopped from raising the issue of late payment of ...(Unlock)