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Friday, April 21, 2023 Vol. 18 No. 186
P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 24 pages | 7 days a week
FOR EL NIñO, OTHER RISKS CJ Gesmundo cites digital push, reforms in judiciary
By Samuel P. Medenilla sam_medenilla & Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
T
HE government is now working to further bring down high inflation and ensure a social protection floor (SPF) framework will be in place to minimize the economic impact of El Niño, which is expected to severely affect the country by the last quarter of the year.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573 & Lito Gagni
C
HIEF Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo on Thursday provided an update on the High Court’s push for digital initiatives in court procedures as part of a six-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations to streamline court systems and procedures, as well as allow for a more inclusive and responsive judiciary. Addressing the 35th weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Manila at the Conrad Hotel, the chief magistrate likened the judicial innovations to the four way test of the Rotary’s ideals of truth, fairness, goodwill and being beneficial to all concerned. “The four-way test encapsu-
See “Social,” A2
RCEP TAKES EFFECT FOR PHL JUNE 2
“We are revising the entire rules of court and among the innovations that we will propose is, you cannot file a civil case in any court without prior exhaustion of alternative dispute resolution.” – Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo lates the measure” by which court decisions should be made, CJ Gesmundo said, adding that the innovations underway include the review even of law subjects considered out of tune with the times, the need for abbreviated court proceedings and incorporating arbitration as a key to resolving disputes. See “Gesmundo,” A2
T
HE Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will take effect on June 2, 2023, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said. “The RCEP agreement will enter into force for the Philippines, 60 days from the said deposit of the instrument of ratification and that date of effectivity will be the 2nd of June 2023,” Pascual said at a briefing held at the Malacañang on Thursday. The Trade chief said the issuance of the executive order (EO) that they presented to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Meeting on Thursday will “operationalize” the implementation of the Philippine tariff commitments under the RCEP agreement. Pascual said the EO is proposed to be effective on June 2,2023 to “coincide” with the end of the 60-day period after the deposit of the instrument of ratification of the mega trade deal. See “RCEP,” A2
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (upper photo) addresses the Rotary Club of Manila’s 35th Weekly Membership Meeting on Thursday, April 20, at Conrad Hotel. He updated Rotarians on the high court’s digital push and other reforms to unclog courts, hasten the judicial process and make courts more responsive. Above, Gesmundo (fourth from left, second row) joins RCM officers and members, including former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III, Mr. Jackie Rodriguez and Atty. Alex Cureg. Story at upper right. NONOY LACZA/ SUSAN CAMBRI
PESO exchange rates n US 56.0800 n japan 0.4166 n UK 69.7691 n HK 7.1449 n CHINA 8.1451 n singapore 42.0295 n australia 37.6465 n EU 61.4525 n KOREA 0.0422 n SAUDI arabia 14.9538 Source: BSP (April 20, 2023)