[ ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 17 -2005, April 02, 2005 ]

[ ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 17 -2005, April 02, 2005 ]

[ ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 17 -2005, April 02, 2005 ]

IN THE MATTER OF THE FOUR-DAY WORKWEEK FOR APRIL AND MAY 2005

WHEREAS, in Administrative Order No. 117 issued on 29 March 2005, the President has directed departments, bureaus, agencies and offices in the Executive Branch of Government to adopt a four-day workweek for the months of April and May 2005 whereby employees except those exempted from the plan shall report for work only from Monday to Thursday each week but must render service from 7:30 a.m, to 6:30 p.m., exclusive of meal periods;

WHEREAS, Section 3 of the Administrative Order No. 117 provides that athe Legislative and Judicial Branches of Government, Constitutional Commissions and Local Government Units (LGUs) are encouraged to adopt the four-day workweek during the months of April and May of this year";

WHEREAS, after a serious study on the matter, the Court finds as inadvisable the four-day workweek schedule under Administrative Order No. 117 in light of (a) the Judiciary's own austerity program under Administrative Circular No. 44-2004; (b) the fact that the courts have their own calendar of cases which have been set in advance for many months; (c) the probable resulting increase in the backlog of cases; (d) the regular reporting of a skeletal force on Saturdays to attend to the needs of the citizens; and (e) the large number of employees, more or less 522, who are on flexi-time schedule.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Judiciary declines to adopt the four-day workweek schedule for the months of April and May 2005 prescribed by Administrative Order No. 117 issued by the President of the Philippines on 29 March 2005.

Issued this 2nd day of April 2005.

(Sgd.) HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR.

Chief Justice

Copy furnished:

Office of the Chief Justice Offices of the Associate Justices Office of the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeals Office of the Presiding Justice, Sandiganbayan Office of the Presiding Justice, Court of Tax Appeals Office of the Court Administrator Office of the Clerk of Court Office of the Clerk of Court, First Division Office of the Clerk of Court, Second Division Office of the Clerk of Court, Third Division Offices of the Deputy Court Administrators Office of Administrative Services Fiscal Management Systems Information Office Program Management Office Public Information Office Philippine Judicial Academy Judicial and Bar Council Office of Administrative Services, OCA Financial Management Office, OCA Court Management Office, OCA Records Control Division