Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1856)
The primary purpose of Presidential Decree No. 1856 is to provide financial support to the University of the Philippines Law Complex and to amend provisions related to the U.P. Law Center Charter to reinforce and expand legal education and resources.
The U.P. Law Complex is envisioned to consist of the U.P. College of Law, the U.P. Law Center, and other related components dedicated to legal education, research, training, and extension services.
The financial support is sourced from an additional one percent (1%) of the filing fee imposed in courts, but not less than Twenty Pesos in appellate courts and not less than Ten Pesos in other courts, collected by clerks of court or their equivalents for each action or special proceeding filed.
All appellate courts, other courts including administrative or special courts, agencies or tribunals exercising quasi-judicial functions, and those enumerated in Letter of Instructions No. 1182 dated December 16, 1981, are covered.
A 'special proceeding' includes any petition, application, paper, or document seeking official action to establish a status, right, privilege, or particular fact, or to command the performance of a duty.
The additional amounts collected are receipted as part of a special fund known as the 'Legal Research Fund,' and are immediately remitted to the University of the Philippines and deposited in a separate account under the National Treasurer.
The National Treasurer acts as the Ex-Officio Treasurer of the University of the Philippines under this charter and holds custody of the fund in an authorized government depository bank.
Yes, it repeals all laws, presidential issuances, rules, or regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this decree.
The decree took effect immediately upon its signing on December 26, 1982.
The Legal Research Fund is a special fund created to financially support the U.P. Law Center and the U.P. Law Complex, ensuring resources for teaching, research, legal extension services, and the reinforcement of legal education capabilities in the Philippines.