Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro ManilaTenth Congress
Republic Act No. 8557 February 26, 1998
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL ACADEMY, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::
Section 1. It is hereby declared a policy of the State to ensure an efficient and credible Judiciary. Towards this end, it is imperative to provide members of the Judiciary and prospective applicants with continuing good education and training.
Section 2. To carry out the policy enunciated in Sec. 1 hereof, there is hereby established a Philippine Judicial Academy, hereinafter referred to as PHILJA, which shall be a separate component unit of the Supreme Court and shall operate under its administration, supervision and control.
Section 3. The PHILJA shall serve as a training school for justices, judges, court personnel, lawyers and aspirants to judicial posts. For this purpose, it shall provide and implement a curriculum for judicial...
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Republic Acts
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL ACADEMY
Republic Act No. 8557
Summary of Republic Act No. 8557:
Establishment of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA)
• Declares the policy of ensuring an efficient and credible Judiciary through continuing education and training for members of the Judiciary and prospective applicants. (Section 1)
• Establishes the PHILJA as a separate component unit of the Supreme Court, operating under its administration, supervision, and control. (Section 2)
Functions and Duties of PHILJA
• Serve as a training school for justices, judges, court personnel, lawyers, and aspirants to judicial posts. (Section 3)
• Provide and implement a curriculum for judicial education. (Section 3)
• Conduct seminars, workshops, and other training programs to upgrade legal knowledge, moral fitness, probity, efficiency, and capability. (Section 3)
• Perform other functions and duties necessary to carry out its mandate. (Section 3)
Location and Governance
• The Academy shall be located in Tagaytay City or other places determined by the Supreme Court. (Section 4)
• The Academy shall have a Board of Trustees composed of the Chief Justice (ex-officio Chairman), Senior Associate Justice (ex-officio Vice Chairman), Chancellor, Presiding Justices of the Court of Appeals and Sandiganbayan, Court Administrator, President of the Philippine Judges Association, President of the Philippine Association of Law Schools (ex-officio members), and a Judge of a first-level court (appointive member). (Section 5)
• The appointive member shall be appointed by the Supreme Court for a term of one (1) calendar year and may be reappointed. (Section 5)
• Ex-officio members shall serve for the duration of their incumbency. (Section 5)
• All members shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reasonable honoraria/allowance. (Section 5)
Executive Officials
• The Executive Officials shall be composed of a Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Executive Secretary, appointed by the Supreme Court for a term of two (2) years and may be reappointed. (Section 6)
• The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor shall have meritorious service as a member of a collegiate appellate court for at least five (5) years, or as a Regional Trial Court Judge for at least ten (10) years, and meritorious service as a teacher of law in a reputable law school for at least five (5) years, unless otherwise provided by the Supreme Court. (Section 6)
• The Executive Secretary shall have the same requisite qualifications and compensation as a Regional Trial Court Judge, serve on a full-time basis, and be the ex-officio Recorder-Secretary of the Board of Trustees. (Section 6)
• The incumbent Executive Officials shall continue in their positions until the expiration of their initial terms, without prejudice to their reappointment. (Section 6)
• The Chancellor shall have the compensation and privileges of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. (Section 6)
• The Vice-Chancellor shall have the compensation and privileges of an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals. (Section 6)
• Service of the Executive Officials in the Academy shall be considered as service in the Judiciary for purposes of retirement privileges, seniority, and other benefits, except in cases not allowed by law. (Section 6)
• The Executive Officials shall not engage in the private practice of any profession. (Section 6)
Corps of Professorial Lecturers
• The Academy shall be staffed by a Corps of Professorial Lecturers. (Section 7)
• Lecturers shall be nominated by any member of the Board of Trustees, approved by a majority vote of the Board, and formally appointed by the Supreme Court for a term of two (2) years, with the possibility of reappointment. (Section 7)
Academic Courses and Publications
• The academic courses and publication of a Judicial Journal and other legal writings shall be determined by the Chancellor in consultation with the Corps of Professorial Lecturers and approved by the Board of Trustees. (Section 8)
Selection and Admission of Participants
• The criteria for the selection and admission of participants shall be determined by the Chancellor in consultation with the Corps of Professorial Lecturers and approved by the Board of Trustees. (Section 9)
Mandatory Completion of PHILJA Programs
• As soon as PHILJA is fully organized, only participants who have completed the prescribed programs and satisfactorily complied with all requirements may be appointed or promoted to any position or vacancy in the Judiciary. (Section 10)
Consortium Agreements
• The PHILJA may enter into consortium agreements with educational and training institutions for the development and implementation of programs for orientation, career development, and continuing judicial education. (Section 11)
• Honoraria, allowances, and other emoluments of personnel from the institutions involved with the consortium agreements shall not be taken from the funds of the PHILJA. (Section 11)
Inclusion of PHILJA Programs in Conventions
• All conventions of judges and court personnel shall include pertinent Academy educational programs under such rules and requirements as the Academy may prescribe. (Section 12)
Tax Exemptions and Donations
• All income, legacies, gifts, and donations for the benefit, support, or maintenance of the Academy shall be exempt from all forms of taxes, fees, income tax, real estate assessments, and other government charges. (Section 13)
• All legacies, gifts, and donations to the Academy shall constitute a special fund known as the Judicial Academy Fund, administered and disbursed by the Board of Trustees exclusively for the purposes of this Act. (Section 14)
Transfer of Properties
• All properties, real or personal, now pertaining to the Academy shall be deemed automatically transferred to the Academy established herein upon the effectivity of this Act, unless otherwise provided in the original deed of conveyance, donation, grant, or transfer. (Section 15)
Appropriations
• The amount necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the Academy, shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for 1999 and every year thereafter under the program of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. (Section 16)
Separability Clause
• If any section or provision of this Act is adjudged invalid, all other provisions not affected shall remain in force. (Section 17)
Repealing Clause
• All laws, rules, and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. (Section 18)
Effectivity
• This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. (Section 19)
Establishment of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA)
• Declares the policy of ensuring an efficient and credible Judiciary through continuing education and training for members of the Judiciary and prospective applicants. (Section 1)
• Establishes the PHILJA as a separate component unit of the Supreme Court, operating under its administration, supervision, and control. (Section 2)
Functions and Duties of PHILJA
• Serve as a training school for justices, judges, court personnel, lawyers, and aspirants to judicial posts. (Section 3)
• Provide and implement a curriculum for judicial education. (Section 3)
• Conduct seminars, workshops, and other training programs to upgrade legal knowledge, moral fitness, probity, efficiency, and capability. (Section 3)
• Perform other functions and duties necessary to carry out its mandate. (Section 3)
Location and Governance
• The Academy shall be located in Tagaytay City or other places determined by the Supreme Court. (Section 4)
• The Academy shall have a Board of Trustees composed of the Chief Justice (ex-officio Chairman), Senior Associate Justice (ex-officio Vice Chairman), Chancellor, Presiding Justices of the Court of Appeals and Sandiganbayan, Court Administrator, President of the Philippine Judges Association, President of the Philippine Association of Law Schools (ex-officio members), and a Judge of a first-level court (appointive member). (Section 5)
• The appointive member shall be appointed by the Supreme Court for a term of one (1) calendar year and may be reappointed. (Section 5)
• Ex-officio members shall serve for the duration of their incumbency. (Section 5)
• All members shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reasonable honoraria/allowance. (Section 5)
Executive Officials
• The Executive Officials shall be composed of a Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Executive Secretary, appointed by the Supreme Court for a term of two (2) years and may be reappointed. (Section 6)
• The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor shall have meritorious service as a member of a collegiate appellate court for at least five (5) years, or as a Regional Trial Court Judge for at least ten (10) years, and meritorious service as a teacher of law in a reputable law school for at least five (5) years, unless otherwise provided by the Supreme Court. (Section 6)
• The Executive Secretary shall have the same requisite qualifications and compensation as a Regional Trial Court Judge, serve on a full-time basis, and be the ex-officio Recorder-Secretary of the Board of Trustees. (Section 6)
• The incumbent Executive Officials shall continue in their positions until the expiration of their initial terms, without prejudice to their reappointment. (Section 6)
• The Chancellor shall have the compensation and privileges of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. (Section 6)
• The Vice-Chancellor shall have the compensation and privileges of an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals. (Section 6)
• Service of the Executive Officials in the Academy shall be considered as service in the Judiciary for purposes of retirement privileges, seniority, and other benefits, except in cases not allowed by law. (Section 6)
• The Executive Officials shall not engage in the private practice of any profession. (Section 6)
Corps of Professorial Lecturers
• The Academy shall be staffed by a Corps of Professorial Lecturers. (Section 7)
• Lecturers shall be nominated by any member of the Board of Trustees, approved by a majority vote of the Board, and formally appointed by the Supreme Court for a term of two (2) years, with the possibility of reappointment. (Section 7)
Academic Courses and Publications
• The academic courses and publication of a Judicial Journal and other legal writings shall be determined by the Chancellor in consultation with the Corps of Professorial Lecturers and approved by the Board of Trustees. (Section 8)
Selection and Admission of Participants
• The criteria for the selection and admission of participants shall be determined by the Chancellor in consultation with the Corps of Professorial Lecturers and approved by the Board of Trustees. (Section 9)
Mandatory Completion of PHILJA Programs
• As soon as PHILJA is fully organized, only participants who have completed the prescribed programs and satisfactorily complied with all requirements may be appointed or promoted to any position or vacancy in the Judiciary. (Section 10)
Consortium Agreements
• The PHILJA may enter into consortium agreements with educational and training institutions for the development and implementation of programs for orientation, career development, and continuing judicial education. (Section 11)
• Honoraria, allowances, and other emoluments of personnel from the institutions involved with the consortium agreements shall not be taken from the funds of the PHILJA. (Section 11)
Inclusion of PHILJA Programs in Conventions
• All conventions of judges and court personnel shall include pertinent Academy educational programs under such rules and requirements as the Academy may prescribe. (Section 12)
Tax Exemptions and Donations
• All income, legacies, gifts, and donations for the benefit, support, or maintenance of the Academy shall be exempt from all forms of taxes, fees, income tax, real estate assessments, and other government charges. (Section 13)
• All legacies, gifts, and donations to the Academy shall constitute a special fund known as the Judicial Academy Fund, administered and disbursed by the Board of Trustees exclusively for the purposes of this Act. (Section 14)
Transfer of Properties
• All properties, real or personal, now pertaining to the Academy shall be deemed automatically transferred to the Academy established herein upon the effectivity of this Act, unless otherwise provided in the original deed of conveyance, donation, grant, or transfer. (Section 15)
Appropriations
• The amount necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the Academy, shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for 1999 and every year thereafter under the program of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. (Section 16)
Separability Clause
• If any section or provision of this Act is adjudged invalid, all other provisions not affected shall remain in force. (Section 17)
Repealing Clause
• All laws, rules, and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. (Section 18)
Effectivity
• This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. (Section 19)