IN RE: SUSPENSION OF THE HIRING OF NEW PERSONNEL.

Administrative Order No. 100, promulgated by the President on December 1999, directs the suspension of the hiring of new personnel for purposes of generating additional funds for the implementation of the 10% across-the-board salary increase for fiscal year 2000. The Order affects only the departments and agencies of the Executive Branch of the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and state universities and colleges. However, the Legislative and Judicial Branches, as well as the Local Government Units, are “encouraged to adopt the provisions of [the] Order at their own respective discretion.”

In light of the main objective of the Order and the imperative need to adopt and pursue some austerity measures in the Judiciary, the hiring of new personnel shall be deferred or suspended except for the following positions:

1. Coterminous positions in the Offices of the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, Presiding Justice and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan, the Court Administrator, the Deputy and the Assistant Court Administrators, Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy, and the Judicial and Bar Council;

2. Vacant positions in the various offices or divisions in the Supreme Court, including the Office of the Court Administrator, which have been published or ordered by the Chief Justice to be filled up and the applicants thereof have filed their applications before 01 January 2000; and vacant positions in the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and lower courts which have been recommended for filling-up and the applicants therefor have passed the Selection and Promotions Board concerned before 31 January 2000;

3. Vacant positions whose filling-up is justified by compelling reasons as may be determined by the head of office concerned and subject to the approval of the Chief Justice.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

Issued this 31st day of January 2000.