Marcos signs Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act, vows stronger court independence

Manila Bulletin

President Marcos on Thursday, Aug. 14, signed Republic Act No. 12233, or the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act, which he said will strengthen the independence, efficiency, and accountability of the country’s courts. (Video courtesy of RTVM)  READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/14/marcos-signs-judiciary-fiscal-autonomy-act-vows-stronger-court-independence  Join this channel to get access to perks:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5664f6TkaeHgwBly50DWZQ/join   Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin   Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin  Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin   #ManilaBulletinOnline  #ManilaBulletin  #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00The President may now proceed to sign the enrolled copy.

00:12Upon signing the harmonized version of Senate Bill No. 2982 and the House Bill No. 11358,

00:19it shall be known as Republic Act No. 12233, entitled

00:24An Act Defining the Scope and Extend of the Fiscal Autonomy of the Judicial Branch of the Government and for other purposes.

00:32This measure aims to affirm the fiscal autonomy of the judiciary as enshrined in the Constitution

00:38and to strengthen its power as a co-equal branch of the government.

00:42Thank you, Mr. President.

00:45Speaker of the House, Ferdinand Martin-Romaldes, the Honourable Members of the House of Representatives,

00:51Chief Justice Alexander Gasmundo, and the Honourable Associate Justices of the Supreme Court,

00:58fellow workers in government, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

01:02A warm welcome to Malacanang Palace,

01:05and it is truly nice to see all three branches of government under one roof,

01:11working together to strengthen our country's democracy and democratic processes.

01:15democracy can only take root when every Filipino is certain that the law is the same for all,

01:23and that those who create, enforce, and interpret these laws do so without fear, without favor,

01:29and without anyone holding them by the purse strings.

01:34Today, through the signing of the Judicial Fiscal Autonomy Act,

01:37we are putting safeguards in place so that the judiciary can work more efficiently and more independently.

01:43Our Constitution already mandates the judiciary shall enjoy fiscal autonomy.

01:49Appropriations for the judiciary may not be reduced by the legislature below the amount appropriated for the previous year,

01:57and after approval shall be automatically and regularly released.

02:02And this is why we continue to help the judiciary become secure in its resources

02:07and perform its duty to serve our people without any delay.

02:11Under this law, the proposed budget of the judiciary will go straight to Congress

02:17and shall be included in the national budget exactly as submitted.

02:22Every month, funds will be released automatically.

02:26The Chief Justice is authorized to augment any item and modify through unbanked resolutions

02:31the allotment of funds within the bounds of the law to where they are most needed,

02:37whether that goes to hiring more personnel, repairing courtrooms, advancing their systems to keep up with their times.

02:44In turn, the Supreme Court will report quarterly to the executive and legislative branches

02:49on how these funds are judiciously spent.

02:52This is how we promote transparency and accountability.

02:56This is how we do checks and balances.

03:00This is how democracy works, by respecting the role each branch plays,

03:05while exercising our duty to ensure that no branch acts beyond what the Constitution allows.

03:12We are also establishing a judiciary trust fund,

03:16so the courts can tap their collected funds to address urgent needs.

03:20The Supreme Court can reorganize its offices, hire staff faster,

03:25and bring services closer to the people by decentralizing operations.

03:29Higit sa lahat, ang batas na ito ay para sa taong bayan.

03:35Kapag may sapat na pondo at malinaw na patakaran sa paggamit nito,

03:39magagawa ng hudikatura ng mas mabuti ang kanilang sinumpang tungkulin.

03:44Ang bawat kasong nakahain sa mga korte ay mapapakinggan at madidesisyonan

03:51ng walang takot at walang alinlanan.

03:54Kaakibat nito, matutugunan ng hukuman ang hinahing ng taong bayan

04:00na dumudulog sa kanila at matutulungan silang isulong ang kanilang mga karapatan.

04:07Mabibigyan din sila ng pagkakataon makamtan ang kalayaan, kapayapaan, at justisya.

04:14This law further strengthens the commitment of the executive to work alongside the judiciary

04:20as a co-equal branch of government.

04:22We recognize that each of us has a unique role,

04:27and yet we also have a shared responsibility to uplift Filipino people.

04:34Above all, let us always remember that even our smallest decisions

04:38can shape the lives of very many people and the future of the nation.

04:44This administration is committed to respecting the autonomy and authority of the Supreme Court

04:49as it discharges its constitutional duty to interpret the highest law of the land.

04:55This commitment thus calls on us to stay true to our constitution,

04:59to champion integrity and fairness, and implement laws with prudence and foresight.

05:04I would like to take this opportunity to convey our deepest gratitude to the legislature

05:09for passing this very significant law.

05:12As we build a more progressive Bagong Pilipinas that has ensured that the rights of our people

05:17remain secure and that every Filipino lives with peace, with dignity, with pride.

05:23Araming salamat sa inyong lahat at mabuhay ang hudikatura, mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas.

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