Efficient Use of Paper Rule (A.M. No.

11-9-4-SC) | Philippine e-Legal Forum 23/01/2020, 8)51 PM

EFFICIENT USE OF PAPER RULE (A.M. NO. 11-9-

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Republic of the Philippines

A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC

EFFICIENT USE OF PAPER RULE

Whereas, to produce 500 reams of paper, twenty trees are cut and 100,000 liters of water are used, water that
is no longer reusable because it is laden with chemicals and is just released to the environment to poison our
rivers and seas;

Whereas, there is a need to cut the judicial system’s use excessive quantities of costly paper, save our forests,
avoid landslides, and mitigate the worsening effects of climate change that the world is experiencing;

Whereas, the judiciary can play a big part in saving our trees, conserving precious water and helping mother
earth;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Supreme Court En Banc hereby issues and promulgates the following:

Sec. 1. Title of the Rule– This rule shall be known and cited as the Efficient Use of Paper Rule.

Sec. 2. Applicability. – This rule shall apply to all courts and quasi-judicial bodies under the administrative su-
pervision of the Supreme Court.

Sec. 3. Format and Style. – a) All pleadings, motions and similar papers intended for the court and quasi-judicial
body’s consideration and action (court-bound papers) shall written in single space with one-and-a –half space
between paragraphs, using an easily readable font style of the party’s choice, of 14-size font, and on a 13 –inch
by 8.5- inch white bond paper; and

b) All decisions, resolutions and orders issued by courts and quasi-judicial bodies under the administrative su-
pervision of the Supreme Court shall comply with these requirements. Similarly covered are the reports sub-
mitted to the courts and transcripts of stenographic notes.

Sec. 4. Margins and Prints .— The parties shall maintain the following margins on all court-bound papers: a left
hand margin of 1.5 inches from the edge; an upper margin of 1.2 inches from the edge; a right hand margin of

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1.0 inch from the edge; and a lower margin of 1.0 inch from the edge. Every page must be consecutively
numbered.

Sec. 5. Copies to be filed. – Unless otherwise directed by the court, the number of court- bound papers that a
party is required or desires to file shall be as follows:

a. In the Supreme Court, one original (properly marked) and four copies, unless the case is referred to the
Court En Banc, in which event, the parties shall file ten additional copies. For the En Banc, the parties need to
submit only two sets of annexes, one attached to the original and an extra copy. For the Division, the parties
need to submit also two sets of annexes, one attached to the original and an extra copy. All members of the
Court shall share the extra copies of annexes in the interest of economy of paper.

Parties to cases before the Supreme Court are further required, on voluntary basis for the first six months fol-
lowing the effectivity of this Rule and compulsorily afterwards unless the period is extended, to submit, simul-
taneously with their court-bound papers, soft copies of the same and their annexes (the latter in PDF format)
either by email to the Court’s e-mail address or by compact disc (CD). This requirement is in preparation for the
eventual establishment of an e-filing paperless system in the judiciary.

b. In the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan, one original (properly marked) and two copies with their
annexes;

c. In the Court of Tax Appeals, one original (properly marked) and two copies with annexes. On appeal to the
En Banc, one Original (properly marked) and eight copies with annexes; and

d. In other courts, one original (properly marked) with the stated annexes attached to it.

Sec. 6. Annexes Served on Adverse Party. – A party required by the rules to serve a copy of his court-bound on
the adverse party need not enclose copies of those annexes that based on the record of the court such party
already has in his possession. In the event a party requests a set of the annexes actually filed with the court,
the part who filed the paper shall comply with the request within five days from receipt.

Sec. 7. Date of Effectivity. – This rule shall take effect on January 1, 2013 after publication in two newspapers of
general circulation in the Philippines.

Manila, November 13, 2012.

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3. Indigent or Pauper Litigant: Rules in Determining Status
4. Jurisdiction of Philippine Courts
5. Salient Points of the Amendments to Rules 41, 45, 58 and 65 of the Rules of Court

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5 thoughts on “Efficient Use of Paper Rule (A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC)”

Pingback: The Efficient Use of Paper Rule (A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC) | AttyAtWork.com

Prahar
January 21, 2016 at 2:12 pm

I am a Nepali ciltizen and while applying for medical residency in the philipines Children hospital ..the training
coordinater mailed me as….
I am Dr. Moses de Guzman from the Office of Professional Education and Training of the Philippine Children’s
Medical Center. Your inquiry regarding Residency Training in Pediatric Medicine for foreign nationals was for-
warded to our office. Please be informed that foreign applicants must coordinate with United Asia Pacific Trad-
ing and Services who will process your application. You may get in touch with them at their office: 5th floor,
Bhattachan Complex Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Thank you for considering the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

Moses C. de Guzman III, MD

While inquiry in the consultancy ..they asked me for 25000 $..Same in Rizal medical centre.
The are illegally selling medical seats of government college for up ta 50000$…Please check the corruption and
also provide me justice.

shammy
February 6, 2016 at 12:10 pm

I would like to ask something because my wife is in correctional institution for women,she was being convicted
of the case section 5 and sec 11 of RA 9516 anti illegal drugs,she was sentenced 12-14 years and a life impris-
onment,i would like to know how to make her case be visibly gone by,i mean she`s innocent,how can she have
her freedom.? The court of appeals said that she was efficient use of paper rules.? How long does it need to
process.?

Thomas
September 5, 2017 at 6:55 am

Great post! Have nice day ! wmhca

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jasmin
July 17, 2019 at 3:11 pm

what is the e-mail address of the supreme court

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