[ ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 56-2007, July 10, 2007 ]

[ ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 56-2007, July 10, 2007 ]

[ ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 56-2007, July 10, 2007 ]

REVISING ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 71-2006 DATED SEPTEMBER 7, 2006 DIRECTING THE DESIGNATION OF A FOCAL PERSON AND AN ASSISTANT FOCAL PERSON FOR DESIGNATED FAMILY COURTS AND OTHER REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS HANDLING FAMILY AND YOUTH CASES

WHEREAS, Administrative Circular No. 71-2006 issued on September 7, 2006 directs the designation of a Focal Person and an Assistant Focal Person who shall, in coordination with the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), handle administrative supervision over the designated Family Courts and other Regional Trial Courts handling family and youth cases; exercise administrative disciplinary authority over the judges and personnel of these courts; and develop policies, standards and strategies for their internal operations;

WHEREAS, discussions with the officials of the OCA indicate that, through its organizational set-up, the Court Administrator and the Deputy Court Administrators shall effectively manage and supervise the Regional Trial Courts designated as Family Courts and other Regional Trial Courts handling family and youth cases within their respective regional areas of responsibility;

WHEREAS, the mandate of the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary includes the formulation and development of policies, standards and strategies relating to family, youth and gender issues for implementation by the OCA and the lower courts and that, therefore, the said Committee shall formulate policies geared toward the effective administration of justice by the Family Courts and other Regional Trial Courts handling family and youth cases;

WHEREAS, in pursuance of the streamlining efforts of the Supreme Court and considering that the matters subject of Administrative Circular No. 71-2006, such as the management and supervision of said courts, are attended to and handled by the OCA, there appears no necessity for the designation of Focal Persons.

NOW, TFIEREFORE, the Court hereby revises Administrative Circular No. 71-2006 dated September 7, 2006, by designating the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary as the Focal Committee for the development of policies for the Family Courts, which policies shall then be implemented by the OCA.

This Circular shall take effect immediately.

Issued this 10th day of July 2007.

(Sgd)REYNATO S. PUNO

Chief Justice