Jamaine Punzalan

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signs the Judicial Fiscal Autonomy Act at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang Palace on Thursday morning. Witnessing the event are Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senate President Francis Escudero, Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, and other members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Photo from Romualdez's office

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Thursday the Judicial Fiscal Autonomy Act which seeks to empower the judiciary as an independent and co-equal branch of government by institutionalizing its fiscal autonomy.Marcos noted that under the law, the judiciary can send its proposed budget directly to Congress and would be included in the national budget “exactly as submitted”.The 1987 Constitution grants the judiciary fiscal autonomy and holds that &quot;appropriations for the Judiciary may not be reduced by the legislature below the amount appropriated for the previous year and, after approval, shall be automatically and regularly released.&quot; Marcos said funds will be released automatically every month, and the Chief Justice will be authorized to augment any item and modify the allotment of funds where they are most needed through en banc resolution “within the bounds of the law”.He said that checks and balances would be observed by requiring the Supreme Court to submit a report quarterly to the executive and legislative branches on how funds were spent.“This is how we promote transparency and accountability. This is how we do checks and balances,” the President said during the law&#x27;s ceremonial signing at the Malacañan Palace, witnessed by top government and judiciary officials.  “This is how democracy works—by respecting the role each branch plays, while exercising our duty to ensure that no branch acts beyond what the Constitution allows,” he added.Under the law, a Judiciary Trust Fund will also be established to enable the courts “to tap their collected funds to address urgent needs”. “Kapag may sapat na pondo at malinaw na patakaran sa paggamit nito, magagawa ng Hudikatura nang mas mabuti ang kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin,” Marcos said. “Ang bawat kasong nakahain sa mga korte ay mapapakinggan at madedesisyunan nang walang takot at walang alinlangan,” he added.<div> </div><div>SC WELCOMES NEW LAW</div>The Supreme Court said it welcomes the signing of the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act, saying that despite the Constitutional mandate of fiscal autonomy, the courts&#x27; budgetary needs were sometimes not met because of the complex budget process.It said the new law addressed that problem and &quot;ensures that the monthly cash requirements of the Judiciary— equivalent to one-twelfth of its total budget—will be released automatically by the DBM, without the need for additional paperwork or approvals.&quot;The SC said the law strengthens the judiciary’s authority to address shortages in its workforce by requiring the DBM to on requests for newly created positions within 120 days.“This supports the SC’s power to determine the number and types of court personnel needed, within its budget and in line with constitutional and legislative policies,” it said.The SC will draft the Implementing Rules and Regulations or IRR in consultation with the DBM and Commission on Audit.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Thursday the Judicial Fiscal Autonomy Act which seeks to empower the judiciary as an independent and co-equal branch of government by institutionalizing its fiscal autonomy.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Thursday the Judicial Fiscal Autonomy Act which seeks to empower the judiciary as an independent and co-equal branch of government by institutionalizing its fiscal autonomy.

Marcos signs law giving fiscal autonomy to judiciary

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Marcos signs law giving fiscal autonomy to judiciary

Harlene Delgado,

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 14, 2025 10:47 AM PHT

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Updated August 14, 2025 06:57 PM PHT

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Bongbong Marcos

Marcos Jr

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

judiciary

fiscal autonomy

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