FILE PHOTO: REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/Illustration
MANILA, Philippines — Following the downtrend in COVID-19 infections, all judicial courts in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other areas nationwide which are under Alert Level 1 will start operating with 100 percent of its personnel reporting physically until March 31.
The directive was issued by the Office of the Court Administration (OCA) in a circular dated March 16, covering all the courts, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals.
Aside from reporting physically from 8AM to 4:30PM, Monday to Friday, the OCA also said night courts were already allowed to operate in stations where these have been organized or required.
Executive judges may also resume doing jail visitations and flag raising and lowering ceremonies are again allowed.
Aside from the NCR, the other areas in Luzon under Alert Level 1 until March 31 are: Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Kalinga, Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela, Quirino, Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City,Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena City, Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City, Romblon, Naga City and Catanduanes.
In the Visayas, the following are under Alert Level 1: Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Siquijor, Biliran, Ormoc City, and Tacloban City.
In Mindanao, only Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Davao City and Butuan City are under Alert Level 1.
Meanwhile, trial courts under Alert Level 2 are to operate with only a maximum of 80 percent of total personnel on-site. Night courts are not allowed to operate.
At the Court of Appeals, its three offices—Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro will be operating in full on-site capacity until March 31.
RELATED STORIES:
Courts in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 to operate at full capacity
PH courts slowly transition to normalcy