By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Justice Reform Initiative (JRI) has reaffirmed its support for efforts to improve the country’s justice system as its officials met with Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo during a courtesy call at the Supreme Court in Manila on September 2, 2026.
JRI Chairperson Atty. Alexander B. Cabrera led the delegation that met with Gesmundo at the Supreme Court En Banc Conference Room in Ermita, where the Chief Justice welcomed the organization’s continuing engagement with the Judiciary.
The meeting highlighted areas of common concern between the JRI’s reform advocacy and the Supreme Court’s ongoing judicial modernization program, particularly in strengthening the rule of law, judicial independence, accountability, efficiency and access to justice.
Established in 2012, the JRI brings together private-sector and civil-society organizations that advocate reforms in the administration of justice. The group also conducts surveys and research examining public and business-sector perceptions of the justice system.
Gesmundo pointed to persistent challenges facing the courts, including delays in resolving cases, limited access to justice and concerns involving corruption and competence, as areas being addressed through the Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 (SPJI).
Under the SPJI, the Supreme Court has pursued measures aimed at improving court efficiency through its High-Performance Courts initiative. The program uses a Performance Development Framework to determine the causes of delays, measure court performance and help reduce backlogs in trial courts.
The Judiciary has also sought to reinforce its institutional independence through the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act, which provides that the Judiciary’s budget may not be reduced below the previous year’s allocation and ensures its automatic and regular release.
Technology-driven reforms have likewise become part of the Court’s modernization efforts.
The Supreme Court has introduced eCourt PH, a unified case management system supporting digital filing and real-time case tracking across different court levels. The Judiciary ePayment Solution (JEPS) allows litigants and lawyers to pay legal fees and court dues securely online, while artificial intelligence is being used to assist legal research and routine court operations.
The Court has also expanded initiatives aimed at making legal assistance more accessible through the Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS).
Under ULAS, covered lawyers are required to render at least 60 hours of legal aid services every three years to individuals who cannot afford adequate legal representation. The assistance may include representation before courts and quasi-judicial bodies, legal counseling, preparation of legal documents, developmental legal assistance, legal outreach activities and notarization.
Joining Cabrera during the courtesy call were Vice Chairperson Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad, President Atty. Pedro H. Maniego Jr., Vice President Maria Mignon W. Ramos, Treasurer Esther P. Magleo, Trustees Atty. Roderico V. Puno and Julia Abad, and Board Advisers Sherisa Nuesa, Teresita Ang-See, Rex C. Drilon II and Jerome Pascual.
The JRI’s membership includes major business organizations, professional groups, civil-society organizations and foreign chambers of commerce, including the Management Association of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Institute of Corporate Directors, Philippine Institute of Arbitrators, and the American and European Chambers of Commerce.
The September 2 meeting underscored the continuing engagement between the Judiciary and the JRI on reforms intended to improve the efficiency, accountability and accessibility of the justice system.
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