The Supreme Court building. FILE PHOTO
The Supreme Court will likely transfer to the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City by 2019, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad confirmed on Friday.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will fund the purchase of the P1.28 billion property.
“I have already received the commitment of the government to fund the new Supreme Court building. We are grateful to the President for that commitment,” said Sereno on Friday at Camp Aguinaldo, where she attended the change of command ceremony for newly appointed AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad told the Inquirer in a text message that the government has approved a Multi Year Obligational Authority (MYOA) for P3.286 billion for the construction of the new Supreme Court complex at the BGC.
“For 2016, P122.73 million was allocated for detailed architectural and engineering design,” Abad said.
An Inquirer source said it was likely President Aquino would lead the groundbreaking of the Supreme Court BGC complex before his term ends.
The University of the Philippines owns the lot and infrastructure on which the old Supreme Court building stands on Padre Faura Street in Manila.
Sereno said that it is only “appropriate” that the country’s highest court should have a title to its own land. Nikko Dizon and Matthew Reysio-Cruz
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