The Supreme Court (SC), through the Committee on First- and Second-Level Courts’ Performance Evaluation (Committee) led by its Chairperson, Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, officially concluded the Kick-Off Pilot Implementation of the Performance Development Framework (PDF) for High-Performance Courts on May 8, 2025, at the Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila.
The final leg of the pilot implementation series was conducted for the program’s pilot courts in the cities of Mandaluyong and Antipolo.
In his opening remarks, Justice Caguioa emphasized the potential of trial courts to become high-performing by applying insights from the pilot sessions. He encouraged participants to stay involved in the development and implementation of the framework, stating: “[W]hat the Court is after through this project is to cultivate a culture of excellence among all first- and second-level courts, and to make them courts of excellent performance.”
The PDF supports the goals of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), particularly its aim of improving the efficiency of courts. It is designed to identify causes of delay and highlight best practices from exemplary courts, with the goal of establishing a unified standard of performance across all trial courts.
Justice Caguioa thanked the Justice Sector Reform Programme: Governance in Justice (GOJUST) for its assistance in developing the PDF for High-Performance Courts. At the event, GOJUST consultants Roland Ruiz and Dr. Ramon Segismundo led interactive discussions on the following topics: High-Performance Courts Model; the Performance Development Framework and its implementing guidelines; Interface with Court Management Office: Data Collation, Analysis, and Reporting Process; and The Next Six Months: Pilot Workplan, Monthly Mentoring/Coaching Sessions and Playbook Communications.
Participants also shared their own practices in managing court processes and discussed common challenges in day-to-day operations.
Also present were Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva; Deputy Court Administrator Leo T. Madrazo; Court Management Office Chief Atty. Marilou Marzan-Anigan; and Interim Planning Development Office Representative Atty. Bettina R. Melchor. They were joined by Philippine Trial Judges League National President Judge Ana Lesa S. Sarsoza-Radaza (Branch 9, Municipal Circuit Trial Court [MCTC], Bato-Matalom, Leyte); Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines, Inc. Secretary General for Luzon Judge Esmeralda Balderas-David (Branch 4, Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Olongapo City, Zambales); Acting Presiding Judge Dioanne B. Palao-Legaspi of MCTC, Maragondon-Ternate-Magallanes, Cavite; and Philippine Association of Court Employees, Inc. National President Atty. Rayson M. Mayor.
Prior to the kick-off, representatives from the Committee and GOJUST visited the pilot courts in Antipolo and Mandaluyong on May 7, 2025. (Press release courtesy of the SC Office of the Spokesperson)
Originally published by the Supreme Court Public Information Office.
