SC to set up Bicol office, brings court closer to all

By JASON B. NEOLA

FOR the first time in history, a regional office of the Supreme Court is taking shape, right here in the Bicol Region. Under the Efficiency outcome of the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 (SPJI), the Judiciary has embarked on a sweeping organizational review and restructuring effort, with the modernization of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) at its core.

The OCA, which was statutorily created to assist the Supreme Court in the exercise of its constitutional power of administrative supervision over all courts, has long delivered essential services from its sole office in Manila.

For decades, paperwork from trial courts across the archipelago had to be funneled to the capital, creating logistical hurdles and slowing down responses. Despite the growing number of courts and technological advancements, this centralized setup remained largely unchanged.

That era is now coming to an end. The OCA Modernization Program envisions a stronger, more responsive institution with sharpened oversight, research, and policymaking capacities at the national level, while ensuring that immediate administrative needs of trial courts are addressed regionally.

This is where the newly created Office of the Regional Court Manager (ORCM) comes in, serving as the bridge between the central office and the courts on the ground.

In Judicial Region V, the ORCM is led by Regional Court Manager Atty. Raiza Nicole G. Mendiola-Ladlad and Deputy Regional Court Manager Atty. Kristoffer Gil P. Balbastre.

Together, they are introducing this historic office to the courts and communities of Bicol with a shared commitment to bring the services of the OCA closer to trial courts and to the people they serve.

“The establishment of the ORCM is a step toward making the Supreme Court closer to the people,” Atty. Mendiola-Ladlad said. “By devolving functions and streamlining processes, we ensure that court users feel the presence of the Judiciary not only in Manila, but here in the region where it matters most.”

Deputy Regional Court Manager Atty. Balbastre echoed this vision, highlighting the importance of the ORCM in bridging gaps. “We want our courts to feel that support is no longer distant,” he explained. “The ORCM is here to provide immediate assistance, ensure that administrative concerns are resolved quickly, and make the Judiciary more visible and responsive to the needs of the communities we serve.”

RCMs also act as ambassadors of the Supreme Court and the OCA, championing the execution of SPJI projects in the regions, including the rollout of eCourtPH version 2.0, which promises faster, more transparent, and more efficient judicial processes. This means that in Bicol, justice will no longer feel distant or Manila-centered, but more responsive and within reach.

The creation of the ORCM marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Judiciary’s modernization journey. It signals a vision of courts that are closer to the people, more efficient in service delivery, and more accessible to every Filipino seeking justice.

Finally, a regional arm of the Supreme Court is in Bicol.

LEGAL MINDS Mayor Leni Robredo shares a brief exchange with Regional Court Manager Atty. Mendiola-Ladlad, Deputy Regional Manager Atty. Balbastre, and City Legal Officer Atty. Angel Ojastro. Photo courtesy of Atty. Kristoffer Gil P. Balbastre