Phl courts go digital with $14.5-M grant

Phl courts go digital with $14.5-M grant | Daily Tribune

The Supreme Court has taken a major step toward modernizing the country’s justice system after sealing a $14.5-million partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) aimed at bringing Philippine courts deeper into the digital age.

The agreement, formalized through the signing of a Record of Discussions, lays down the framework for a sweeping project designed to make court processes faster, more accessible, and more transparent through technology.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who led the ceremonial signing alongside Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Sang-hwa Lee, said the initiative reflects the Judiciary’s commitment to keeping pace with a rapidly changing world — without losing sight of its constitutional role.

“In an era where technology is reshaping how institutions serve the public, the Judiciary must evolve,” Gesmundo said, stressing that modernization will not come at the expense of the courts’ independence, integrity, and constitutional mandate.

At the heart of the project are three key goals: establishing an electronic verification system, digitizing court records, and rolling out extensive capacity-building programs for judges and court personnel. Together, these are expected to streamline judicial workflows and cut down on delays that have long burdened court proceedings.

Under the partnership, KOICA will support four major components of the reform effort. These include digital transformation consulting to redesign court processes and policies, the development of software for document digitization, electronic verification, and case management, the establishment of secure and modern IT infrastructure, and comprehensive training for judges, court staff, and information technology professionals.

The modernization push has been years in the making. It began with the Supreme Court En Banc’s approval of the project’s concept paper in September 2024, followed by a preliminary survey in January 2025 and an implementation survey conducted from late June to early July this year. The findings from these studies helped fine-tune the project’s scope and execution.

With the agreement now signed, the Supreme Court and KOICA have moved the initiative from blueprint to reality — marking one of the most ambitious and significant digital reform efforts ever undertaken by the Philippine Judiciary.