SC Inspects Court Facilities in Cebu City; Engages in Dialogues with Trial Court Judges and Court of Appeals, Visayas Station Justices

October 15, 2025

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Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando (left) with Executive Judge Anacleto G. Debalucos of Branch 17, Regional Trial Court, Cebu City (center) and an engineer from the Office of the Regional Court Manager (right), inspecting the condition of court facilities in Cebu City located at the Qimonda IT Center on October 8, 2025. (Courtesy of the SC Oversight Committee over the General Maintenance of the Philippine Halls of Justice Secretariat)  

The Supreme Court (SC) Oversight Committee over the General Maintenance of the Philippine Halls of Justice (Oversight Committee), chaired by SC Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, together with the Office of the Regional Court Manager (ORCM) for the Seventh Judicial Region, conducted an ocular inspection of the trial courts of Cebu City and the Court of Appeals, Visayas Station last October 8, 2025, in view of the recent earthquake that affected the province.

In the morning, Justice Hernando inspected the first- and second-level courts of Cebu City, housed in Qimonda IT Center.

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando (center), inspecting the condition of court facilities in Cebu City located at the Qimonda IT Center on October 8, 2025. (Courtesy of the SC Oversight Committee over the General Maintenance of the Philippine Halls of Justice Secretariat)  

After the inspection, Justice Hernando engaged in a dialogue with the judges of Cebu City and other courts located in areas affected by the earthquake, including Bogo City, Bantayan-Sta. Fe-Madridejos circuit, Medellin-Daanbantayan-San Remegio circuit, Borbon-Tabogon circuit, Argao, and Mandaue City. The judges relayed their respective courts’ challenges and concerns, highlighting those brought about by the recent earthquake.

Justice Hernando also took the opportunity to update the Cebu City judges of the status of the construction of the new Hall of Justice. As of writing, the SC En Banc has already approved the conceptual design for the proposed new Hall of Justice, while procurement of consultancy services for the Detailed Architectural and Engineering Design is ongoing. The actual construction of the Hall of Justice, which will house the Court of Appeals, Visayas Station and the first- and second-level trial courts in Cebu City, may start as early as 2026.

The SC assures the Cebu City judges and the Court of Appeals Justices of the fast-tracking of the construction of the new Hall of Justice.  

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando (right), engaging in a dialogue with Cebu trial court judges on October 8, 2025 at the Quest Hotel and Conference Center, Cebu. (Courtesy of the SC Oversight Committee over the General Maintenance of the Philippine Halls of Justice Secretariat)   

Justice Hernando likewise inspected the Court of Appeals, Visayas Station in the afternoon, and thereafter held a dialogue with the justices.  

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando (center) with Court of Appeals (CA) Executive Justice Pamela Ann Abella Maxino (right of Justice Hernando), inspecting the Rollo Room of the CA-Visayas Station on October 8, 2025. (Courtesy of the SC Oversight Committee over the General Maintenance of the Philippine Halls of Justice Secretariat)  

Throughout the visit, Justice Hernando highlighted the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 (SPJI). He reassured the judges that their administrative concerns will be addressed by the Court and the ORCM.

Justice Hernando was joined by Regional Court Manager for the Seventh Judicial Region Judge Michelle Ann T. Villahermosa-Gacutno and members of the Oversight Committee’s Secretariat and the ORCM.

Meanwhile, on October 9, 2025, Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta, along with Assistant Court Administrator Lilian C. Barribal-Co and Office on Halls of Justice Chief Atty. Raquel M. Ladrillano also inspected the same court facilities and likewise held a dialogue with the Cebu City judges at the GMC Innovation Center. Currently, three properties in Cebu City are being assessed to serve as temporary sites for the displaced courts: (1) The Noah Project, a facility offered by the Cebu City Government; (2) Kepwealth Center, located on Archbishop Reyes Ave.; and (3) Il Corso Lifemalls, located at South Road Properties (SRP). Other properties are continuously being explored and evaluated to facilitate the swift relocation of the courts and resumption of their operations.  

Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta (front row, second from left), Office on Halls of Justice Chief Atty. Raquel M. Ladrillano (front row, first from left), and Assistant Court Administrator Lilian C. Barribal-Co (behind Court Ad, in blue), together with Executive Judge Anacleto G. Debalucos of Branch 17, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Cebu City (second row, behind Atty. Ladrillano) and the RTC judges of Cebu on October 9, 2025 at the GMC Innovation Center, Cebu City, Cebu. (Courtesy of the Office of the Court Administrator)  

Justice Hernando’s visit is part of the Oversight Committee’s mandate to monitor, assess, and document the infrastructure and general maintenance of the Halls of Justice in the country, in accordance with the SPJI’s goal of timely and fair justice. The Committee had previously conducted ocular inspections of the Halls of Justice in Manila; Bacolod City and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental; Ilagan City, Isabela; Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; San Fernando City, La Union; Urdaneta City and Dagupan City in Pangasinan; Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Tarlac City, Tarlac; and Biñan City and Cabuyao City in Laguna. (Press release courtesy of the Office of Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando)