Supreme Court Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda delivers the inspirational message of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo at the 4th National Convention and Seminar of the Association of Clerks of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriffs at Escala Hotel, Tagaytay City on August 3, 2023.
“I call on each and every one of you to fully embrace technology in the performance of your duties. Harness it to work more efficiently and expeditiously. Invest more knowledge on technology and skills that will complement our innovations.”
Thus said Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, in an inspirational message delivered on his behalf by Supreme Court Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda at the two-day 4th National Convention and Seminar of the Association of Clerks of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriffs (ACCES) at Escala Hotel, Tagaytay City on August 3, 2023.
As read by Justice Zalameda, the Chief Justice encouraged all judicial workers to fully support the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, or the SPJI: “Be leaders and active agents of reform, bearing in mind that these innovations are meant not to supplant us, but to support us and help us better serve those who come to us in search of justice.”
The SPJI is the Court’s blueprint for judicial reform, which is anchored on four guiding principles—Timely and Fair Justice, Transparent and Accountable Justice, Equal and Inclusive Justice, and Technologically Adaptive Management—and aimed at three outcomes: Efficiency, Innovation, and Access.
The Chief Justice also commended ACCES for this year’s convention theme, “The COCs: Facing the Challenges of Digitization and Judicial Innovations,” which he said was timely, adding that the Court will rely “on the crucial support” that ACCES will provide in the implementation of the SPJI.
The SPJI, the Chief Justice said, allows the Court to capitalize on the latest technologies, like artificial intelligence, to modernize court operations; fully transform our trial courts into electronic courts using the much-improved eCourt system version 2.0; and streamline operations and systems, both adjudicative and administrative, with the help of a judiciary-wide organizational review and restructuring, the creation of the SC Management Committee and a Planning and Development Office for the Judiciary, and the establishment of a Caseflow Management Program and constitution of the Judiciary Caseflow Management Committee.
The Chief Justice also extolled the clerks of court calling them “essential officers, with the office serving as the hub of both adjudicative and administrative work.” He added: “You serve as administrators of the court’s business, chroniclers, personnel supervisors, custodians, treasurers, accountants, guards, ex-officio sheriffs and notaries public, and liaisons to other government agencies—responsibilities that you often have to perform all at the same time.”
He concluded his message by thanking all the members of ACCES for their service to the Judiciary and to the nation.
Meanwhile, Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva gave updates on recent circulars issued by the Office of the Court Administrator, while Deputy Clerk of Court and Acting Executive Director of the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB), Atty. James D.V. Navarrete, discussed administrative discipline and the JIB. There was also an open forum on related problems in the Judiciary E-Payment Solution (JEPS) and lecture on audit requirements for clearance purposes of COCs.
ACCES will conclude its convention by electing its new set of officers after discussion on OCA Circular No. 276-2022 on Extra-Territorial Service of Summons, the Arbitration and Arbitral Remedies, and the Anti-Cybercrime Law and Salient Points on Cybercrime Warrants. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)