Press Release
September 25, 2007

Senate passes bill giving more
retirement benefits to judges and justices

The Senate passed on second reading a bill that will strengthen the Philippine judiciary by giving additional retirement benefits to justices and judges across the country.

The bill, entitled, "An Act granting additional retirement benefits to the members of the judiciary, amending for the purpose Repulbic Act 910 and for other purposes," is a consolidation of proposed measures filed by Senate President Manny Villar, Sens. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Juan Ponce Enrile, and Pia Companera Cayetano.

"The judiciary, in administering justice and upholding the rule of law, serves as the bastion of democracy in our country. Its corps of members, performing the highest standards of public service, deserves no less than sufficient compensation," the Senate President said.

The Senate President said an SWS survey covering the period of 2005 to 2006 and entitled, "Diagnostic Study of the Judiciary," bared that 61 percent of respondent judges considered their compensation "inadequate."

"This is a sad fact considering the heavy case loads of our judges, with over 30 percent being responsible for two or more courts," said Villar, president of the Nacionalista Party.

The legislation seeks to augment the benefits received by members of the judiciary, in addition to the existing retirement program, by providing them the following:

(1) highest monthly aggregate of representation, transportation and living allowances at the time of his retirement or resignation, and

(2) educational scholarship for a legitimate child or scholar officially nominated or designated by the member of the Philippine judiciary in any state university or college.

Covered by the measure are the Chief Justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals, and judges of the Regional Trial Court, Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, Shari'ah District Court, and Shari'ah Circuit Court.

The said bill is the first to be passed by the Senate in the First Regular Session of the 14th Congress.

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