Court of Appeals justice to courts: Be accessible during work hours

MANILA, Philippines — While there is no rule mandating a no-noon break policy in the judiciary, an associate justice of the Court of Appeals (CA) reminded courts to ensure they are readily available to the public during their prescribed work schedules.

Two circulars from the Supreme Court’s Office of the Court Administrator set the work schedules for courts on weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Regions 1 to 12, and from 8 a.m. to noon and from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Metro Manila, according to CA Associate Justice Myra Garcia Fernandez.

However, Fernandez noted Republic Act 11032, or the law promoting ease of doing business and efficient service in government, explicitly orders agencies and offices to “adopt appropriate working schedules to ensure all applicants or requesting parties who are within their premises prior to the end of official working hours are attended to and served even during lunch break and after regular working hours.”

Fernandez was a guest at the SC’s weekly podcast on Oct. 30, when she discussed a previous SC decision that tackled a complaint against a family court in San Pablo City, Laguna accused of closing its courtroom by noon and never returning to work by the end of the day despite its claim of implementing a no-noon break policy.

The unanimous decision, penned by SC Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan and promulgated in June 2024, found the court’s presiding judge guilty of simple misconduct and imposed an P18,000 fine.

“Even if there are prescribed working hours and lunch break for courts, the courts are encouraged and urged to maintain staff to accommodate requests from the public even during lunch break,” Fernandez emphasized.

Making sure courts are accessible to the public would be in accordance with the SC’s 2025 Code of Judicial Conduct and Accountability, she added.

Fernandez is among 11 aspirants for SC associate justice, which were shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council.

President Marcos is set to pick the nominee that will replace SC Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, who is set to retire on her 70th birthday this Nov. 16.