There has been a reduction on dockets of civil cases filed before city courts with the coming in of the Small Claims Court Program, an initiative which is being supported by the American Bar Association (ABA), through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
On Thursday, visiting United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas met with judges handling the program where he was briefed on the impact of the initiative.
"I was listening to them because we fund that program that is helping to speed up courts. We listen to how they have utilized our assistance," the Ambassador stated.
The Small Claims Court Program was launched in 2008 but went full swing on April 2010, according to Executive Judge Amalic Espinosa Jr. of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities based here
"It is envisioned to expedite purely money claims that are not more than P100,000 without the need of lawyers," Espinosa explained.
Further, he said that the filing of cases is being done through the assistance of the clerk of court. The court renders a decision, which is final and executory, the same day the hearing is held.
Since its launching in 2008, he said that a total of 852 cases were decided out of the 889 cases filed, a batting average of around 80-85 percent.
The remaining cases that are yet to be decided are mostly new cases which they hope to dispose of in the coming months. Espinosa said that if they have to base that on the regular procedures then probably the cases might still be pending in various courts for hearing.
"Definitely it's a big help," he said.
He said the ABA is actively monitoring the implementation of the program.
Ambassador Thomas was accompanied by USAID and ABA representatives during his visit at the Ramon Avanceña Hall of Justice here.
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