[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 165-2018, August 07, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 165-2018, August 07, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 165-2018, August 07, 2018 ]

TO : ALL EXECUTIVE JUDGES, PRESIDING/ACTING PRESIDING JUDGES, CLERKS OF COURT, AND BRANCH CLERKS OF COURT OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS

SUBJECT: EN BANC RESOLUTION DATED 10 JULY 2018 IN AM. NO. 08-8-7-SC [RE: AMENDMENTS IN SECTIONS 2 AND 8 OF THE REVISED RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR SMALL CLAIMS CASES INCREASING THE THRESHOLD AMOUNT OF CLAIM FROM TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P200.000.00) TO THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300.000.00) EXCLUSIVE OF INTEREST AND COSTS]

For your information and guidance, quoted below is the Resolution dated 10 July 2018 of the Honorable Court En Banc in A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC (Re: Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases) amending Sections 2 and 8 of the Revised Rules of Procedure for Small Claims Cases, which increased the threshold amount of claim from Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200.000.00) to Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300.000.00) exclusive of interest and costs:

SEC. 2. Scope. - These Rules shall govern the procedure in actions before the Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTCs), Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCCs), Municipal Trial Courts (MTCs) and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTCs) for payment of money value where the value of the claim does not exceed Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300.000.00) exclusive of interest and costs.

x x x x

SEC. 8. Joinder of Claims. - Plaintiff may join in a single statement of claim one or more separate small claims against a defendant provided that the total amount claimed, exclusive of interest and costs, does not exceed Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300.000.00). [Amendments in bold)

The appropriate Small Claims Forms are likewise amended to reflect the increased threshold amount of P300.000.00.

The foregoing amendments shall take effect on August 1, 2018 following their publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

The above Resolution was published in The Philippine Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer on 17 July 2018.

In view thereof, the courts concerned are authorized to make the necessary amendment/s to the Small Claims Forms to reflect the increased threshold amount of P300.000.00, in lieu of the P200,000.00. Attached as Annex "A" is the amended copy of the Statement of Account (Habla ng Pagsingil) for court use.

For strict compliance.

7 August 2018

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator