The Supreme Court (SC) has set 2026 as the target year for the full nationwide rollout of its plan to decentralize court administration through the creation of regional court management offices.

The initiative, part of the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, was presented on August 11 during a town hall meeting at the SC–CA Gymnasium in Manila and includes a reorganization of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) to improve trial court efficiency.

Under the initiative, a central OCA leadership unit will oversee strategy and policy, while new Offices of the Regional Court Manager (ORCMs) will be established across all judicial regions.

The SC said the ORCMs are intended to expedite case management, reduce the workload of executive judges, and standardize trial court procedures.

In 2024, six pilot ORCMs were launched across six judicial regions, with additional offices—including two each in the 4th Judicial Region and the National Capital Judicial Region—set to open this year ahead of full nationwide implementation by 2026.

The plan will also restructure the roles of Deputy Court Administrators, who will shift from geographic assignments to functional areas: Court Administration, Court Operations, and Regional Services. Existing OCA offices will be reorganized in line with digital upgrades.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo said the reforms were the product of consultations with OCA personnel. 

“This is a reform shaped by dialogue, data, and a deep understanding of our mandate,” he said. 

He added that the restructuring “recognizes the need for local solutions, faster decision-making, and tailored support for our courts.”

Former Court Administrator and now Associate Justice Raul Villanueva said the ORCM model would distribute administrative functions more effectively and improve public service delivery.

The program also introduces a Career Counseling initiative to support OCA employees in training and professional development, while helping them adapt to the transition.

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