Senate tackles judiciary, DMW, science budgets

Senate justice and human rights committee chair Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday sponsored and defended the Senate’s proposed P67.755-billion budget for the judiciary next year, as he cited the need for better funding to address court backlogs and fast-track resolution of cases.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Pangilinan said the funding will help the judiciary’s programs and address backlog of cases in the Supreme Court and lower courts, the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Sandiganbayan, the Court of Appeals and Court of Tax Appeals.

It also seeks to strengthen the Philippine Judicial Marshal Service, the Unified Legal Aid Service, adjudication of Supreme Court cases, the Justice Sector Convergence Program, Filipino Sign Language program in courts and the judiciary’s maintenance and operating expenses.

The judiciary also received an additional P200 million budget to put up a third Sharia Court.

For his part, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he would push for a P250 million more funding for the newly organized Judicial Integrity Office (JIO), tasked to investigate corruption within the judiciary.

Lacson said operationalizing the JIO would bring accountability among judges, officials and employees of the courts.

He also hoped the passage of Republic Act 12233, or the Judicial Autonomy Act, would empower the judiciary to propose its own budget next year, instead of relying on the executive's spending plan, the National Expenditure Program.