The Supreme Court of the Philippines and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) formalized a 50-year lease agreement to establish the Office of the Regional Court Manager for Judicial Region III (SC-ORCM JR3). The memorandum of agreement was signed on June 30, 2026, at Teatro sa Nayon sa Clark, with CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera and Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta representing their respective institutions. Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando witnessed the ceremony, which coincided with the annual Judiciary Month and the 125th anniversary of the Philippine Judiciary.
Decentralization and Empowerment of the Judiciary
During the signing, Devanadera highlighted the significance of the agreement: “This is decentralization. This is empowerment. This accelerates the delivery of justice.” Chief Justice Gesmundo echoed this sentiment, noting that regional support offices are part of the judiciary's effort to make services more responsive and accessible. “When those who serve the courts are supported, the judiciary serves the people,” he said.
Location and Scope of the New Office
The SC-ORCM JR3 will be situated at Buildings 1092 and 1097 of the One-Stop Shop Processing Center along Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Clark. This office is part of the Supreme Court's pilot rollout of decentralized administration under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027. The plan aims to streamline administrative and fiscal matters and promote judicial reform across the region.
Clark as a Hub for National Institutions
The CDC emphasized that this partnership reinforces Clark's role as a host to strategic national institutions, strengthening its position as a hub for governance and service delivery in Central Luzon. The 50-year lease underscores the long-term commitment between the Supreme Court and CDC to enhance the efficiency of the judiciary in the region.
