13/06/2020
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL LAWYERS AND LITIGANTS. FYI
1. In light of the resumption of court hearings under the now new normal in the wake of the Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic, the following temporary office/court hearing protocols shall be strictly observed to ensure the safety of every stakeholder in the judicial sector in this part of the country:
1.1 The number of stakeholders who would be granted access to the Court will be limited only to one (1) lawyer and one (1) witness, or one (1) movant in the case motions, on a single regular hearing day. Save for BJMP personnel who will be granted entry in accordance with their required security requirements, only those litigants who will testify in Court on that day will be allowed entry inside the Court premises;
1.2 To ensure physical distancing, the Court shall endeavour to hear every scheduled legal action in shifts of one (1) to two (2) cases at a time only, and dispose of them in one sitting. Thereafter, the next batch of other cases shall be called for hearing until all are disposed/resolved as the case maybe. Acccordingly then, remaining lawyers and clients are to await their turn outside the Court premises. They are however directed to observe physical distancing at all times. A waiting area shall be designated outside the court premises for their use;
1.3 All lawyers and litigants transacting with the Court are mandated to wear face mask at all times pursuant to Provincial Ordinance No. 235-2020, to include the wearing of all other similar safety devices for their protection. When already available, litigants shall be screened for temperature levels, and may not be allowed entry into the Court should they show any sign of increase in body temperature;
1.4 Lawyers are directed to advise their clients to forego their court attendance should they be feeling unwell as a result of any respiratory sickness;
1.5 Considering the rather time-consuming manner by which these protocols will be implemented, it is directed that Court hearings begin strictly at 8:30 in the morning as previously practiced;
1.6 Handshakes and prolonged tete-a-tete in the Court premises are discouraged in the meantime;
2. Electronic filing. Lawyers are encouraged to file initiatory pleadings, motions and other pleadings via the electronic filing system, to include electronic payment before the designated depositary bank;
3. Clearances. Application for clearances shall be transacted at a designated window deemed farthest from the location of court personnel in compliance with the physical distancing protocol. For this purpose, the main door of the Court shall be closed to the public during non-hearing days;
4. Marriage Ceremony. All scheduled weddings for solemnization shall be held in the presence only of four (4) allowable guests/witnesses per couple, preferably one (1) parent for each couple, and their two (2) witnesses. Requests for marriage rites outside the courthouse is suspended;
5. For strict compliance
Bayambang, Pangasinan
