The Supreme Court through the Office of the Court Administrator has advised all judges and personnel of first and second level courts that all official announcements, issuances, and periodic reports would be electronically sent to and from SC through the Philippine Judiciary Office 365 accounts.
In OCA Circular No. 162-2020, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said that the full utilization of Philippine Judiciary Office 365 accounts for court issuances would start on October 1, 2020.
Because of this, Marquez reminded all concerned judges and court personnel to regularly log in to their accounts at least once in the morning upon arrival in court and once in the afternoon before departure to check for newly-released administrative orders, circulars and other Court issuances.
“All administrative orders, circulars, memoranda and other issuances by the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice and the Office of the Court Administrator shall now be posted and disseminated to the first and second level courts through the Official Announcements and Issuances Channel in the Philippine Judiciary Office 365 platform,” the circular stated.
“These will no longer be individually distributed to the courts, either by registered or electronic main,” it said.
Starting October 1, hard copies of reports and documents will no longer be accepted, the OCA said.
“All judges and branch clerks of courts are directed to ensure compliance with this Circular,” the circular added.
The OCA have provided the more than 1,000 single-sala courts with Philippine Judiciary 365 accounts to enable them to conduct trials through videoconferencing during the pandemic.
Judges and court personnel have been reminded that the Philippine Judiciary 365 accounts should only be used in the performance of official duties and responsibilities of the account holder.