THE Judiciary took the opportunity of the P1.645-trillion 2011 budget deliberations by informing legislators how it is not only neglected in budget allocations but now, for the 2011 budget, Malacañang had even slashed the budget it submitted.

At a hearing on Monday of the House appropriations committee headed by Liberal Party Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya of Cavite, Supreme Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez appealed to legislators to increase their budget. He argued that an insufficient budget could lead to loss of judges and justices to the private sector at this time when these judges and justices are not enough to handle the huge backlogs.

According to Marquez, the Judiciary sought  P27.12 billion for 2011, but the Department of Budget and Management radically reduced it to P14.7 billion. This will surely “badly affect” personnel services, which would  cost P10.3 billion; the needed P1.875 for capital outlay, including the construction of a Hall of Justice for Manila; a P416-million retirees’ fund, and P1.3 million in judicial workers’ health allowances, he added.

Besides these, Marquez said the Judiciary also needs to procure computers and other equipment to make processes run smoothly and efficiently.

As for the compensation of judges and justices, Marquez said, “They play a crucial role which affect the life of the people and economy of the country. If we can’t get competent judges and justices, we can’t give good decisions.”

He stressed that a major reason there is a lack of judges is the fact that there is no fund for it. “We cannot ask the Judicial and Bar Council to nominate judges because we do not have funds for it yet. We have yet to receive notice from the government that funds for that posts are now available.”

The opposition, led by Minority leader Edcel Lagman, in hearing Marquez’s presentation, pledged to work for the increase in the Judiciary’s budget, saying it should be given the budget it originally asked for.

If Malacañang allies in the House would not accommodate the Judiciary’s proposal, Lagman said the minority is supporting adequate increases in the budget.

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro sought the “overhaul” of the national budget to correct the share of a coequal branch of government.

United Opposition Rep. Salvador Escudero III of Sorsogon echoed Lagman’s stand that the Judiciary be given the budget it is asking for. “Indeed, justice delayed is justice denied. I commiserate with the Judiciary.”

In 2007 the Judiciary got 0.76 percent of the national budget; 0.88 percent in 2008, and 0.94 percent in 2009.