AUTHORIZING RELEASE OF THE ADDITIONAL COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE UNDER THE JUDICIARY DEVELOPMENT FUND DECREE CORRESPONDING TO THE EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE COLLECTIONS THEREFOR FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 1 to 30, 2004.

Pursuant to and by virtue of the authority vested in him by P.D. No. 1949 (Judiciary Development Fund Decree), the Chief Justice hereby authorizes the release of additional cost of living allowance from the eighty per centum (80%) allotted for the purpose from the income of the Judiciary Development Fund from September 1 to 30, 2004, including that portion of the eighty per centum of the income collected prior thereto which may still remain available after the previous releases for the Second Quarter of CY 2004, to augment the allowances of the Justices, Judges, the Officials, and the Personnel of the Judiciary for the third month of the Third Quarter of CY 2004 at the rates hereafter set forth:

COURT	No. of Personnel	Rates	Amount
SUPREME COURT (including OCA and PET)
Personnel receiving salary of P7,000.00 and below	547	3,000	P  1,641,000.00
Personnel receiving salary of P7,001.00 to P10,000.00	386	2,900	1,119,400.00
Personnel receiving salary of P10,001.00 and above	1,013	2,800	2,836,400.00
Hall of Justice
50% recommended rate	479	1,500	718,500.00
Court of Appeals
Personnel receiving salary of P7,000.00 and below	295	3,000	885,000.00
Personnel receiving salary of P7,001.00 to P10,000	255	2,900	739,500.00
Personnel receiving salary of P10,001.00 and above	628	2,800	1,758,400.00
SANDIGANBAYAN
Personnel receiving salary of P7,000.00 and below	53	3,000	159,000.00
Personnel receiving salary of P7,001.00 to P10,000.00...	109	2,900	316,100.00
Personnel receiving salary of P10,001.00 and above	176	2,800	492,800.00
COURT OF TAX APPEALS
Personnel receiving salary of P7,000.00 and below	14	3,000	42,000.00
Personnel receiving salary of P7,001.00 to P10,000.00	22	2,900	63,800.00
Personnel receiving salary of P10,001.00 and above	46	2,800	128,800.00
LOWER COURTS
Personnel receiving salary of P7,000.00 and below	3,504	3,000	10,512,000.00
Personnel receiving salary of P7,001.00 to P10,000.00	8,043	2,900	23,324,700.00
Personnel receiving salary of P10,001.00 and above	11,504	2,800	32,211,200.00
Total Amount	- - - - - -		P 76,948,600.00

The release shall be subject to the usual implementing guidelines.

This Memorandum Order takes effect immediately. The Court Administrator, Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, the Chiefs of the Office of Administrative Services and the Fiscal Management and Budget Office of the Supreme Court and the Officers-in-Charge of the Office of the Administrative Services and the Financial Management Office of the Office of the Court Administrator shall forthwith implement it.

Issued this 1^st day of October 2004.

IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES ON THE GRANT OF ADDITIONAL COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE FROM THE JUDICIARY DEVELOPMENT FUND (JDF) TO OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE JUDICIARY AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL PURSUANT TO MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 62 - 2004.

1.  All officials and employees of the Judiciary and PET, whether permanent, co-terminous, temporary or casual who have rendered actual service for at least six (6) months as of September 1, 2004 and still in the service as of September 30, 2004 shall be entitled to 100% of the benefit authorized herein.

"The term "actual service" refers to the period of continuous service since the appointment of the official or employee concerned, including the period or periods covered by any previously approved leave of absence with pay or sick leave of absence without pay (Sec. 28, Rule XVI, CSC Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of E.O. No. 292)."

2.  Employees who have rendered six (6) months actual service as of September 30, 2004 (cut-off period) shall be entitled to 80% of the proposed rate.

3.  A. The following are entitled to a proportionate rate of the benefit:

1.     Employees who have rendered six (6) months or more per 1 above but have compulsorily retired or been separated from the service through no fault of their own (co-terminous) as of September 30, 2004.

2.   Those who have been on vacation leave without pay (VLWOP) for a continuous or uninterrupted period of one (1) week or more during the period covered by the grant of the benefit.

B. The proportionate rate will be computed as follows:

Services Rendered (after August 31,2004)	Additional Cost of Living Allowance
One month (Four [4] weeks)	100% of the proposed rate
Three (3) weeks but less than four (4) weeks	75% of the proposed rate
Two (2) weeks but less than three (3) weeks	50% of the proposed rate
One (1) week but less than two (2) weeks	25% of the proposed rate

4.  Any problem arising from the implementation of this benefit which is not covered by these guidelines shall be referred to the Chief Justice.

01 October 2004.