THE EFFICIENT USE OF PAPER RULE (A.M. NO.

11-9-4-SC)

Recognizing that the judiciary uses excessive quantities of costly paper (for the purpose of address or by compact disc (CD). This requirement is in preparation for the eventual
saving trees, conserving precious water and helping mother earth), the Supreme Court establishment of an e-filing paperless system in the judiciary.
issued the Efficient Use of Paper Rule (A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC; see full text). This Rule, which
took effect on 1 January 2013, prescribes the format of pleadings, motions and documents
b. In the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan, one original (properly marked) and two
filed in courts.
copies with their annexes;

Format and Style 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;
a) All pleadings, motions and similar papers intended for the court and quasi-judicial bodys
and
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 partys choice, of
14-size font, and on a 13 inch by 8.5- inch white bond paper; and d. In other courts, one original (properly marked) with the stated annexes attached to it.

b) All decisions, resolutions and orders issued by courts and quasi-judicial bodies under the
administrative supervision of the Supreme Court shall comply with these requirements.
Similarly covered are the reports submitted to the courts and transcripts of stenographic
notes.
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 1.0 inch from the edge; and a lower margin of 1.0 inch from the edge.
Every page must be consecutively numbered.
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.
Applicability
This Rule applies to all courts and quasi-judicial bodies under the administrative supervision
of the Supreme Court.

The Rule, however, is silent on the effect/s of failure to comply with the requirements.
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 Page 1 of 6
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 following the effectivity of this Rule and compulsorily afterwards unless the
period is extended, to submit, simultaneously with their court-bound papers, soft copies of
the same and their annexes (the latter in PDF format) either by email to the Courts e-mail
 THE EFFICIENT USE OF PAPER RULE (A.M. NO. 11-9-4-SC)
Republic of the Philippines
Supreme Court
Manila
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 systems 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.
Page 2 d.
Sec. 2. Applicability. This rule shall apply to all courts and quasi-judicial bodies under the
administrative supervision of the Supreme Court.
Sec. 3. Format and Style. a) All pleadings, motions and similar papers intended for the
court and quasi-judicial bodys 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 partys 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 supervision of the Supreme Court shall comply with these requirements.
Similarly covered are the reports submitted 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 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 following the effectivity of this Rule and compulsorily afterwards unless the
period is extended, to submit, simultaneously with their court-bound papers, soft copies of
the same and their annexes (the latter in PDF format) either by email to the Courts 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
ofIn6other 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.
 THE EFFICIENT USE OF PAPER RULE (A.M. NO. 11-9-4-SC)

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.
GUIDELINES ON SUBMISSION AND PROCESSING OF SOFT COPIES OF
SUPREME COURT-BOUND PAPERS PURSUANT TO THE EFFICIENT USE OF
PAPER RULE
(1) Soft copies of all Supreme Court-bound papers and their annexes must be
submitted simultaneously with the hard copy if by compact disc (CD) or within
twenty-four (24) hours from the filing of the hard copy if by e-mail. It must be
understood, however, that the paper shall be deemed to have been filed on the
date and time of filing of the hard copy and not the soft copy.

(2) The soft copies must be in PDF and individually saved, as well as individually
attached to the e-mail, if applicable. The filename of the soft copy must be the
same as the document title.

Republic of the Philippines

Examples:
Supreme Court
Manila
Petition for Review should have a file name Petition for Review.pdf
Annex A should have a file name Annex A.pdf
EN BANC

(3) Soft copies submitted by e-mail must be addressed to the appropriate

NOTICE
docketing office, to wit:

Sirs/Mesdames:
Case Type Docketing Office E-Mail Address
Please take notice that the Court en banc issued a Resolution dated September Judicial Records Office
10, 2013, which reads as follows: Judicial cases efile_jro@sc.judiciary.gov.ph
(JRO)
Administrative complaints
A.M. No. 10-3-7-SC (Re: Proposed Rules on E-Filing) and A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC against personnel of the
Office of Administrative
(Re: Proposed Rule for the Efficient Use of Paper). The Court Resolved to SC and its decentralized efile_oas_sc@sc.judiciary.gov.ph
Services, SC (OAS-SC)
units (e.g., OCA, PHILJA,
JBC, MCLEO)
(a) NOTE the Letter dated September 5, 2013 of Mr. Edilberto A. Davis, Acting
Administrative complaints
Chief, Management Information Systems Office, submitting the Proposed Page 3 of 6 matters involving the
and
Guidelines on Submission and Processing of Soft Copies of Supreme Court- Court of Appeals,
bound Papers Pursuant to the Efficient Use of Paper Rule; and Documentation Division,
Sandiganbayan, Court of efile_oca@sc.judiciary.gov.ph
Legal Office, OCA
Tax Appeals and lower
courts, its justices, judges
(b) APPROVE the aforesaid Proposed Guidelines on Submission and Processing and personnel
of Soft Copies of Supreme Court-bound Papers Pursuant to the Efficient Use of
Paper Rule, to wit:
 THE EFFICIENT USE OF PAPER RULE (A.M. NO. 11-9-4-SC)

Administrative matters their annexes pertaining to the same case shall be saved in one CD or attached
Office of the Clerk of Court to one e-mail. In case the total file size of the electronic documents exceeds the
involving the SC and its efile_occeb@sc.judiciary.gov.ph
En Banc
decentralized units maximum size of the CD or the maximum size allowed for uploading by the e-mail
service being used by the filer, the electronic documents may be saved in different
Complaints against lawyers Office of the Bar Confidant CDs or e-mailed in batches, but must b e clearly marked and/or follow the format
efile_bar@sc.judiciary.gov.ph
and other bar matters (OBC)
prescribed above.
(4) The above docketing offices have the primary responsibility of ensuring that all
Supreme Court-bound papers have the corresponding soft copies. They shall (7) The filer shall also attach to the CD or the e-mail a verified declaration
also be responsible for the safekeeping and archiving of the CDs. that the pleading and annexes submitted electronically are complete and true
copies of the printed document and annexes filed with the Supreme Court. The
declaration shall use the following format:
(5) The e-mail shall use the following format:

I, _____________________________, hereby declare that the document/s (and annexes

To : [e-mail address of the appropriate docketing office] thereof) hereto submitted electronically in accordance with the Efficient use of Paper Rule
is/are complete and true copy/ies of the document/s (and annexes) filed with the Supreme
From : [filers e-mail address] Court.

Subject : G.R. No. 123456 (John Doe vs. Juan dela Cruz) Signature
Printed Name
Position
Attachments : [Petition for Review.pdf], [Annex A.pdf], [Annex B.pdf] Date

(Sample body of e-mail) SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me on this _____ day of _____2013, affiant
exhibiting his/her competent evidence of identity, to wit: ______________________.

Case Number: G.R. No. 123456 _____________________

Case Title: John Doe vs. Juan dela Cruz Person Administering Oath
Name of Filing Party: John Doe
Contact Numbers: (02) 888-9900 (landline), 0900-1112233 (cp)
Doc. No.: _________;
Other e-mail address/es, if any: [filers other e-mail address/es] Page No.: _________;
Title of Attached Documents: Book No.: _________;
Series of 20______.
1. 1. Petition for Review
Page 4 The
of 6 declaration attached to the CD must be original, while the declaration
2. 2. Annex A- [name of document] attached to the e-mail must be in PDF.

3. 3. Annex B- [name of document]
(6) A CD or an e-mail shall contain only electronic documents pertaining to one
case. In the same manner, all soft copies of Supreme Court-bound papers and
(8) Only designated personnel of the concerned docketing office shall have
authority to open the CDE or access the e-mail. This is to ensure that the security
and confidentiality of electronically-submitted documents, which may include
internal memoranda, are not compromised.
 THE EFFICIENT USE OF PAPER RULE (A.M. NO. 11-9-4-SC)

(9) Aforesaid designated personnel shall upload a copy of the electronic document (15) The MISO shall set up a similar system for cases and matters of the
to the primary back-up, and then, transmit the electronic document to the division Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
(En Banc, 1st, 2nd, 3rd) to which the case or matter is assigned.

(10) The said division shall create folders for each case (case folder) and
subfolders for each pleading, motion or similar paper transmitted to it by the
docketing office (document subfolder), provided that annexes shall be contained
in the same subfolder as the pleading, motion or similar paper to which they are
annexed.
[1] See Resolution dated November 27, 2012 in A.M. No. 12-11-6-SC (Re:
Proposed Guidelines in the Docketing and Reporting of Certain Administrative
Matters).
[2] This is useful in consolidated cases or in cases with multiple parties.

(11) The case folder must be name according to docket number, while the
document subfolder must be named according to the title of the document and the
date of filing.

For uniformity, the case folder shall use the appropriate prefix (G.R., UDK, A.M.,
IPI, OCA IPI, A.C., B.M.)[1], followed by a space, and then, by the exact number
given by the docketing office, without using No.[Sample: G.P. 123456]

The document subfolder shall clearly indicate the title of the document, the name
of the party-filler[2] and the filing date in YYYY-MM-DD format. [Sample: Petition
for Certiorari Imbong, et al. 2013-01-31]

(12) After creating the appropriate folder and/or subfolder, the said division shall
upload the same to the e-filing network. At this point, only the said division may
add, delete or move files or folders in the e-filing network.

(13) In case of consolidation of cases, the division concerned shall create a new
folder containing all the consolidated cases, and this new folder shall be named
according to the docket number of the controlling case, followed by, et al., [G.R.
204819, et al]

In case of deconsolidation of cases, the division concerned shall deconsolidate

Page 5 of 6
the case folders accordingly.

(14) Authorized users from the following offices may view and download such
electronic documents in the e-filing network which concern their office or division:
Offices of the Chief Justice and Associate Justices, Offices of the Clerk of Court,
OCA, JRO OBC, and OAS-SC.
THE EFFICIENT USE OF PAPER RULE (A.M. NO. 11-9-4-SC)

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