Law Summary

Background

• The document addresses the need to rationalize transportation and representation allowances for personnel in the judiciary.
• It references existing Administrative Orders (No. 5, No. 51, and No. 62) that currently govern these allowances.

Authority and Implementation

• Issued by Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the Philippines, under the powers vested by law.
• The implementation date of this Letter is August 1, 1979.

Allowance Scale

• The Letter prescribes a specific scale for transportation and representation allowances across various judiciary positions:

1. Supreme Court

   • Chief Justice: Transportation P2,000, Representation P2,000, Total P4,000
   • Associate Justices: Transportation P1,500, Representation P1,500, Total P3,000

2. Court of Appeals

   • Presiding Justice: Transportation P1,900, Representation P1,900, Total P3,800
   • Associate Justice: Transportation P1,300, Representation P1,300, Total P2,600

3. Court of Tax Appeals

   • Presiding Judge: Transportation P250, Representation P750, Total P1,000
   • Associate Judge: Transportation P250, Representation P750, Total P1,000

4. Court of Agrarian Relations

   • Executive Judge: Transportation P400, Representation P750, Total P1,150
   • Judges: Transportation P400, Representation P600, Total P1,000

5. Circuit Criminal Courts & Court of First Instance Judges

   • Judges: Transportation P400, Representation P600, Total P1,000

6. Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts Judges

   • Judges: Transportation P400, Representation P600, Total P1,000

7. City Court Judges

   • 1st Class Cities: Transportation P350, Representation P375, Total P725
   • All Other City Courts: Transportation P300, Representation P325, Total P625

8. Municipal Courts Judges

   • Metro Manila: Transportation P300, Representation P130, Total P430
   • Capitals: Transportation P300, Representation P130, Total P430

9. Municipal Circuit Courts

   • Metro Manila: Transportation P250, Representation P130, Total P380
   • All Other Circuit Courts: Transportation P200, Representation P130, Total P330

10. Clerks of Courts

    • Various scales based on the court type and location, ranging from P300 to P100.

Restrictions on Allowances

• Officials assigned official vehicles are ineligible to receive the transportation allowance.
• The National Government will bear the costs of these allowances; local governments must cease similar payments.

Financial Provisions

• Funds for the allowances will be drawn from savings in the current appropriations of the Judiciary for operating expenditures.

Compliance and Non-Duplication

• Officials and employees covered by this Letter shall not receive additional emoluments or allowances from their city, province, or municipality of assignment.

Key Takeaways

• The Letter rationalizes allowances for judiciary personnel, establishing specific amounts based on position.
• It prohibits dual payments of allowances from local governments and sets clear financial provisions for funding.
• Effective from August 1, 1979, it aims to streamline and standardize the payment of allowances across the judiciary.