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In This Issue
Editorial Board
IT Law Society Officers |
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The Philippine IT Law Journal Computerization of Courts In 1989, the Supreme Court embarked on an ambitious yet necessary project, the computerization of all Philippine Courts -- from the Supreme Court down to the Municipal Trial Courts and Shari’a Circuit Courts. This is one sure way to combat delays in the judicial system. It is one of the costliest judicial reforms, but the Court believes that catching up with innovations brought about by computer technology will pave the way to speedier dispensation of justice. Overseeing the computerization of the courts is the Committee on Computerization composed of three Associate justices, with Hon. Justice Artemio V. Panganiban as Chairman, Hon. Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago and Hon. Justice Antonio T. Carpio as Members. The Committee on Computerization is tasked with providing direction on computerization as well as studying policy issues that may arise from the implementation of new technology on established court practices and procedure. It also recommends guidelines to the Court on the proper adoption of these technologies. he Court has already adopted and implemented several computerized information systems through its computer technology arm, the Management Information Systems Office (MISO) headed by Atty. Ivan John E. Uy. I. In-house Developed Computerized Systems The MISO continued the migration of the major DOS-based applications to GUI-based application such as Case Administration System (CAS), Case Monitoring System (CMS), Electronic System on Personnel Record Tracking (ESPRT), the Payroll System, Personnel Leave and Attendance Monitoring System (PSALM) and Supplies and Property Accountability Monitoring System (SPAMS). These systems are being reprogrammed to include some functionalities requested by the users. Additionally, the Systems will be more user-friendly and aesthetically improved, as these systems will incorporate functionalities inherent to Windows-based applications such as icons, font types, styles, formatting and sizes, buttons, pictures, etc. II. Court Administration and Management Information System (CAMIS) The MISO, in coordination with the Project Management Office, extended technical assistance in the development of the CAMIS funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). CAMIS aims to improve the monitoring of the performance of lower court judges. Statistical reports on caseload and case disposal can be generated by the system to facilitate the evaluation of the performance of judges. The system will be implemented in OCA Court Management Office. System testing is tentatively scheduled in June 2004. III. Case Flow Management (CFM) Funded by the USAID, the CFM project aims to facilitate the monitoring of the status of lower court cases, from filing until disposal. The system was pilot-tested in Pasay City in December 2003. The MISO, in coordination with the Program Management Office, extended technical assistance in the design, development and maintenance of the CFM. IV. Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) A Task Force on ISSP was created to oversee the formulation of a five-year plan that will identify the ICT requirements of the Judiciary. The MIS Office, together with the Program Management Office and other key offices of the Judiciary assisted the Task Force in the formulation of the ISSP. The ISSP defines the specifications and design of the ICT systems, infrastructure and resources to be installed or implemented in the Judiciary in the next five years. It prescribes the different technologies that maybe adopted to improve the capacity of the Judiciary in managing its physical, financial and human resources and in addressing the present problems of its frontline services. The ISSP was reviewed and approved by the National Computer Center on 29 September 2003. V. Computer Assisted Legal Research (CALR) The Computer Assisted Legal Research (CALR) is being developed and maintained by the MISO to provide the Court with a tool that will aid in the research of legal cases. Currently, the MISO has updated the 1nfoBase on Supreme Court jurisprudence from May 1996 up to present. `[he Supreme Court offices and the Office of the Court Administrator, ,which are connected to the local area network can now access the full text of decisions and resolutions promulgated during this period. VI. The Supreme Court Internet Homepage The MISO designed a homepage Supreme Court for posting in the Internet. The Supreme Court homepage functions as a clearinghouse for information originating from the judicial branch of the Philippine government. The Supreme Court homepage contains the following information:
The MISO maintains and regularly updates the Supreme Court homepage posted in the Internet. Newly promulgated decisions and resolutions as well as administrative circulars and orders issued by the Chief Justice and the Court Administrator are posted in the Supreme Court homepage for the expeditious dissemination of information. Press releases by the Court through the Public Information Office are likewise posted in the homepage for the information of the public. Also added in the Supreme Court website is a link to the PHILJA website which contains information on training programs and lectures conducted by PHILJA. The results of the 2002 Bar Examinations were posted in the homepage immediately after the listing was released by the Office of the Bar Confidant. The Supreme Court Internet homepage address is www.supremecourt.gov.ph. It can be accessed using any Internet facility. VII. Computer Services and Maintenance The MISO conducted maintenance services and repairs of computers in the Supreme Court and the Lower Courts. The MISO also conducted remediation procedures to computers installed in the Supreme Court which had been infected by computer viruses and worms. Besides the hardware and software services, training and tutorials on application software were also conducted for the different offices of the Supreme Court. Lower court personnel were also trained on the use of computer applications. Training was conducted by the MISO personnel at the Supreme Court for those courts within the Metro Manila area while for courts outside Metro Manila, training sessions were conducted on site. Technical assistance on computer orientation and use of the legal research facility were also extended to lower court judges. VIII. Computer Resources In November 2003, the Court purchased 500 computer sets and a number of laser printers and dot matrix printers for the Supreme Court and selected lower court offices. The computers purchased have installed application packages such as MS Office XP and Norton Anti-Virus. Training sessions on computer operations, Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Word for Windows were likewise provided to lower courts personnel upon delivery of the computers to them. The Dynamo Within Atty. Ivan John E. Uy is the Director ofthe Management Information Systems Office (MISO), and the Chief Information Officer, of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He is also the Chairman of the Court Technology Department of the Philippine Judicial Academy, and the Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee on E-Commerce, Committee on the Revision of the Rules of Court. He pioneered the introduction of technology in the entire judicial system, specifically, those of Computerized financial and administrative systems, Case tracking systems, Computer aided transcripts, and Distance learning, among others. He took his undergraduate studies at the Ateneo de Manila University, graduating in 1984 with a degree in B.S. Business Management, Major in Legal Management (Honors Program); and took his law studies at the University of the Philippines, graduating in 1988. He holds the distinction of being the youngest person to be appointed Chief of Office and in 1995 conferred the rank of Regional Trial Court Judge in the history of the Philippine Judiciary. Notwithstanding the lucrative opportunities in the private sector that are available that would usually entice professionals of such sterling background , Atty. Uy remains with the Judiciary, fueled by altruistic motivations to contribute further, through his know-how in technology matters, to the development of the Philippine legal system and to the enhancement of judicial processes.
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