Philippine Judiciary Budget of P86 Billion Approved, Faster Case Resolution Urged

A SENATE Committee on Finance subcommittee on Thursday approved the proposed P86.27-billion budget of the Judiciary for 2027, with senators seeking faster case processing and fewer backlogs. Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan, who chairs the subpanel, said the Judiciary must use the funds to address delays in case disposition and improve public access to justice. “We want first world justice, but we should also fight for first world budgets to make sure that the Judiciary can do its job effectively,” Mr. Pangilinan said. Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito called for a concrete plan showing how the Judiciary’s priority programs and investments would translate into faster case processing and fewer backlogs. The proposed allocation is 22.2% higher than the Judiciary’s P70.6-billion budget under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Of the proposed allocation, P45.9 billion is earmarked for adjudication and court operations covering the Supreme Court and lower courts, as well as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals and Court of Tax Appeals. Mr. Ejercito cited the Supreme Court’s 23% case disposition rate against a 30% target in 2025 and the Sandiganbayan’s disposal of 1,587 cases against a target of 5,640. The budget also includes P4.73 billion for the Judiciary’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 and P200 million for Halls of Justice in Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City, according to the DBM. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez