President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act 12233, or the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act, which strengthens the fiscal independence of the judicial branch.
The new law institutionalizes constitutional safeguards ensuring the Judiciary’s budget is submitted directly to Congress, automatically released monthly, and used without legislative reduction from the previous year’s allocation.
It empowers the Supreme Court to reallocate funds, reorganize offices, accelerate hiring, modernize systems, and establish a Judiciary Trust Fund for urgent needs.
Marcos emphasized that the measure reinforces democracy by enabling the Judiciary to operate “without fear, without favor, and without anyone holding them by the purse strings,” while promoting transparency through quarterly spending reports to the Executive and Legislative branches.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Supreme Court justices welcomed the signing, calling it a milestone for judicial independence and efficient justice delivery.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 15, 2025
