The Supreme Court reaffirmed its goal of a fully paperless Judiciary by 2027, which starts with the successful adoption of electronic filing (e-Filing) in trial courts.
This digital shift is a key initiative under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, which led to the development of eCourt PH 2.0 — a unified, comprehensive, and intelligent case management system aimed at digitalizing court adjudication.
The first phase of this modernization effort is eFiling, which was fully implemented on 1 December 2024, for civil cases in trial courts.
In its bid to modernize the Judiciary, the SC conducted orientations on electronic filing (eFiling) for Judicial Region VI judges and court personnel from 11 to 13 March 2025, at the Citadines Amigo, Iloilo City, Iloilo, and L’Fisher Hotel, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
Senior Associate Justice (SAJ) Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, in his speech, emphasized the benefits of digitalization in improving access to justice.
He highlighted how technology can streamline case management, reduce processing times, and enable real-time case updates. SAJ Leonen also acknowledged the challenges of adapting to technological changes, encouraging participants to embrace innovation, stating, "Without discomfort, we can have no meaningful reforms."
Leonen underscored the crucial role of trial courts in providing feedback to refine these digital initiatives.
On the other hand, judges and court personnel were urged by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, who delivered the welcoming remarks, to enhance their digital proficiency as the Judiciary’s frontliners.
“Take note that we are doing everything first at your level because you are in the forefront, and you are foremost in our minds when it comes to efficiency,” she said.
This system requires the electronic submission of pleadings and court documents (except for initiatory pleadings), eliminating manual filing inefficiencies and expediting case resolution.